Apparently the Labour Relations Commission has been granted more time by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin to discuss the rejection of the Croke Park 2 agreement with unions and to formulate new proposals. I wonder what Minister Howlin’s response would be next week be if Kieran Mulvey at the LRC were to come back and say to the Minister “I’ve now discussed the matter with the unions, they’re not changing their minds, and the matter is now closed”
Because, that is the response which Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has given in respect of the three high-earning refuseniks at the NTMA/NAMA – you’ll recall that two weeks ago, we reported that 13 staff at the NTMA/NAMA were earning over €200,000 per annum and all had given 15% waivers in 2012; Minister Noonan was asked if the waivers were continuing in 2013, and the Minister responded that only 10 had agreed to continue the waivers with the other three’s salaries returning to pre-waiver levels.
In the Dail this week, the Minister for Finance was asked what further consultations were taking place in respect of the three refuseniks, and the answer is that the NTMA CEO has informed Minister Noonan that the three aren’t taking waivers, and Minister Noonan does “not plan any further consultations on the matter”
We don’t know if the three refuseniks are in NAMA’s 250 staff or the remaining 250 staff at the NTMA, though we do know that both the NAMA CEO Brendan McDonagh and the NTMA CEO John Corrigan have continued with their 15% waivers in 2013. [UPDATED] Minister Noonan has also confirmed the CEO of the National Development Finance Agency which is part of the NTMA, Brian Murphy whose salary is €297,000 has continued his 15% waiver.
The parliamentary question and response are here:
Deputy Pearse Doherty: To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 224 of 23 April 2013, the consultation, if any, that he had on the three persons at the National Treasury Management Agency and the National Assets Management Agency who have not accepted waivers on their €200,000 salaries in 2013.
Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan: The Chief Executive of the National Treasury Management Agency informed me of this matter in the course of putting in place the administrative arrangements for the continuation of the gifting of 15% of salary or such lesser amount of salary as exceeds €200,000 by employees whose salary exceeds €200,000. I do not plan any further consultations on the matter.
NAMA Wine Lake 
I do understand the urge to chase this issue, but in fact if the waivers are indeed “voluntary” then it must be allowed that people refuse.
Obviously if the govt plans to legislate or “agree” cuts for Croke Park 2, they will all be included…
Any chance we might get some information from the Minister for Finance on the redundancies at the now liquidated IBRC/Anglo or is this also classified information?