O'KEEFFE CALLS ON DAIRY CHIEFS TO HAND BACK BONUS PAYMENTS
The top executives in the Kerry Group and Glanbia should hand back large parts of their bonus payments as a gesture of solidarity with farmers who are trying to cope with the worst milk price in Europe, according to Mitchelstown Euro South candidate Ned O’Keeffe TD.
Deputy O’Keeffe said that Kerry Group chief executive, Stan McCarthy, should hand back 70% of his bonus while Glanbia Group managing director John Moloney should return 50% of his.
It is reported that Mr McCarthy last year received a gross income of €1.5 million which consisted of €810,000 salary, €578,000 performance benefit, €104,000 in pension contribution and €33,000 as a benefit in kind.
It is claimed that Mr Moloney received €1.16 million last year which included €509,000 in basic salary and €406,000 as a performance related bonus.
Speaking about these payments, Deputy O’Keeffe said, “It is absolutely absurd that the chief executive of any company should be paid these kind of salaries or bonuses. I will be calling on the Government to bring in legislation that will cap all salaries and bonuses at realistic figures.”
“I also think the chairmen and boards of co-ops have a serious obligation to ensure that these executives are not over paid. There has been far too much of that going on over recent years with the result that their salaries have reached obscene levels. I would like to see more sincerity from co-op chairmen and board members who should not regard their executives as infallible.”
“Bluff and bluster is of little value to farmers. It only bolsters up executives and puts them in an ivory tower where they are removed from the reality on the ground.”
“I think if we are to bring these people back to level ground then they need to take substantial cuts in their bonuses. Particularly given that Irish farmers are suffering due to having the worst milk price in Europe.”
“I also think it is ridiculous to be talking about milk quota increases at this time given the depressed state of the industry. We are facing into a world price scene that will make Irish farming totally uncompetitive if that idea was adapted,” Deputy O’Keeffe concluded.
Published:
Thursday 23rd April 7:26pm
