922. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to urgently review the recommended pay packages of semi-State agency CEOs by the Independent Senior Posts Remuneration Committee; the way can it be justified that the CEO of the ESB earns a salary of €410,000, a salary greater than the President of the United States, especially in the context of a cost of living crisis, with accounts in excess of €500,000 thousand families in energy arrears; his views on whether it is time to halt to this hypocrisy; and will he make a statement on the matter. [60364/26]

The current remuneration framework is based on the recommendations of the Senior Posts Remuneration Committee (SPRC), an independent body established by Government in March 2024 following a recommendation of the Independent Review Panel on Senior Public Service Recruitment and Pay Determination Processes. In April 2024, the SPRC was requested to conduct a comprehensive review of remuneration arrangements for CEOs of Commercial State Bodies.

The Committee's review was extensive, independent and evidence-based. It involved a wide-ranging consultation process with relevant Ministers, Board Chairs, national and international experts, and other stakeholders. The review also considered relevant research, international comparisons, detailed data collection and technical analysis supported by NewERA.

In carrying out its work, the SPRC was required to have regard to the need to recruit and retain individuals with the necessary skills and experience to lead major State organisations, the need to act in the public interest and provide value for money, remuneration in comparable public and private sector roles, prevailing economic conditions, remuneration levels within the organisations concerned, and the impact of collective pay agreements.

The Committee noted that there has been no systematic review of CEO remuneration since 2011. Their Report concluded that CEO remuneration packages in Commercial State Bodies had fallen out of alignment with the market and made recommendations accordingly. The Report also highlights the importance of fair and appropriate remuneration as a key element in the recruitment and retention of CEOs of CSBs who are critical to the State's future development and economic performance.

Within this framework, proposals on CEO remuneration for these bodies are submitted by the Board of the CSB to the relevant Minister in line with the appropriate remuneration band. The relevant Minister considers the Board’s recommendation, and the rationale and information before making a final decision. Proposals approved by the relevant Minister are subsequently submitted for my consent.

Matters relating to individual CSBs, including CEO remuneration, are a matter for the relevant Minister and Department.