An Independent TD has described Bord na Móna’s decision to pay the benefit-in-kind tax bill for its chief executive’s BMW and health insurance as engaging “in lavish remuneration for a tiny clique”, adding that Minister Eamon Ryan had “once again been caught napping”.
Carol Nolan, Independent TD for Laois Offaly, said that “the response of Bord na Mona to this revelation has only made matters worse”, accusing the company of resorting to the “dry language of legal justification” in regard to the controversy.
The semi-state body came under fire yesterday as it was revealed that on top of a €225,000 salary and €56,000 in pension contributions, Bord na Móna covered the tax bill which was due to be paid by chief executive Tom Donnellan because of the benefits paid for him by the company, namely the use of electric BMW and health insurance at a cost of €64,000.
A breakdown of the taxable benefits provided to Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd showed that €46,000 related to the company car, and €18,000 to health insurance.
One social media commentator described the revelations as “tens of thousands fin perks for higher management. Feck all for stressed farmers”.
https://twitter.com/Mullins77David/status/1703792441931808958
Mr O’Dowd told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the cost of the car – an electric BMW iX Sport 5-door SUV, worth €127,000 – and the payment of tax liabilities were ‘unacceptable’.
“There should be a maximum ceiling of €60,000 set by the Government for car purchase for any semi-State CEO and if they wish for a higher spec they should pay it themselves,” he said.
Bord na Móna said: “All payments made to our CEO and any benefits received by him are fully taxed in line with relevant tax legislation”, adding that Mr Donnellan’s remuneration package was subject to the approval of Minister Eamon Ryan.
But Deputy Carol Nolan said that their response had “only made matters worse”.
“The response of Bord na Móna to this revelation has only made matters worse. Instead of putting its hands up and recognising the dreadful optics and more importantly, the policy of lavish entitlement that it represents, it has chosen instead to resort to the dry language of legal justification.” she said.
“The company has demonstrated a level of poor judgement here that is difficult to comprehend,” she continued.
“At the political level the sign off rests with Minister Eamon Ryan who has once again been caught napping while a semi state company committed to the green agenda engages in lavish remuneration for a tiny clique.”
The Independent TD had previously criticised Bord na Móna for adopting a “lordly, feudal attitude” to farmers and landowners she said were concerned about the impact of its rewetting proposals on existing farmland.
“There is a palpable sense now among the community groups and the farmers that are coming to me that BNM is acting like a law unto itself,” said Deputy Nolan at the time.