White: Irish Water bonus scheme 'jars with me'
The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Alex White says the idea of having bonuses for Irish Water staff that need to improve jars with him.
The Government has been urged to block the payment of bonuses of up to 19% at Irish Water.
The utility maintains it does not have a bonus scheme, but claims it is a performance-related awards programme.
Alex White says the question of pay structure of Irish Water staff is a matter for its board, but having bonuses for some staff does not sit right with him.
He said: "Well as I say it is a matter for Irish Water, but if you ask me personally what my view is, I think the idea of there being a bonus or a performance payment for somebody whose performance needs to be improved, I think that might jar a little bit with the public.
"It certainly jars with me."
The Junior Health Minister says the bonus structure at Irish Water represents a return to the old days.
Kathleen Lynch, the Junior Health Minister, also expressed concerns. She said she had genuinely believed that the bonus type of incentive in Ireland was a thing of the past.
Minister Lynch says she doesn't blame the public for being angry about the revelations:
"You do your job, you're paid to do a job, and you should do that job to the best of your ability - and it should not depend on either enhanced payments or bonuses," she said.
"I don't blame people for being angry about this particular issue … it just strikes me as being a return to the old days."
Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan said she has concerns about the arrangement - while Jobs Minister Richard Bruton stressed no-one at Irish Water has earned bonuses yet.
