O'Connor may face board vote of no confidence

Bord na Mona managing director, Dr Eddie O'Connor, should know today whether a final move will _ be made to remove him next week.

The board studied a final report on Dr O'Connor's pay package yesterday and will have to inform him whether a motion of no confidence, or any other resolution affecting him, will be put forward at a special board meeting on Monday.

Bord na Mona's chairman, Mr Pat Dineen, said afterwards that the board was still very unhappy with several facets of the remuneration package. He said the board would "hopefully reach its conclusions on the matter" at next week's meeting.

The report, which covered Dr O'Connor's nine year tenure, showed that the managing director's pay package totalled £1.9 million, including pensions and expenses. Dr O'Connor has maintained that only £750,000 benefited him personally.

He also said that all elements of his package were agreed with Mr Dineen and his predecessor as chairman, Mr Brendan Halligan. The board met Mr Halligan for two hours yesterday afternoon.

Mr Dineen said it appeared that public pay scales had not been conformed with and that this had given rise to "grave public disquiet".

A spokesman for Mr Lowry said last night Mr Halligan had informed his Department that the company had complied with the Government's pay guidelines for State bodies from 1993. Mr Halligan declined to comment on this point last night.

Fianna Fail spokesman for energy, Mr Seamus Brennan, last night called on Mr Lowry to investigate why and how the Price Waterhouse report was leaked.

The Department also moved to distance itself from the leaking of the report on Dr O'Connor's renumeration, saying it had no role in the matter. It emerged yesterday that the Department received one of only three copies of the report. The other two copies went to Mr Dineen and the board's legal advisers.

Dr O'Connor would have to receive notice of any resolution affecting him and he is expected to be told today if one will be tabled. He could be removed from his post only by Mr Lowry. informed his Department that the company had complied with the Government's pay guidelines for State bodies from 1993. Mr Halligan declined to comment on this point last night.

Fianna Fail spokesman for energy, Mr Seamus Brennan, last night called on Mr Lowry to investigate why and how the Price Waterhouse report was leaked.

The Department also moved to distance itself from the leaking of the report on Dr O'Connor's renumeration, saying it had no role in the matter. It emerged yesterday that the Department received one of only three copies of the report. The other two copies went to Mr Dineen and the board's legal advisers.

Dr O'Connor would have to receive notice of any resolution for him and he is expected to be told today if one will be tabled. He could be removed from his post only by Mr Lowry.