DAA's Collier number 3 in state pay ranks

The Sunday Independent newspaper has listed the top earning CEOs of the state monopolies which run the country. In third place behind the ESB (Electricity Supply Board) and The HSE (Health Service Executive) comes the DAA's (Dublin Airport Authority) Declan Collier who has been heavily criticized for the heavy remuneration package which he enjoys. According to the Sunday Independent, Mr. Collier's basic salary €348,000 per year or €29,000 per month. When all the bonuses, pension entitlements and perks are added in, Mr. Collier's total benefits reach €638,000 per year paid for by the Irish taxpayer, a  figure which is almost double that of US President Barack Obama's salary. Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Ryanair chief executive described Collier as 'a mere waste of space'. He said: "Collier is nothing more than a waste of space, who gets rewarded with almost €700,000 a year. The DAA has been bankrupted by the abortive second terminal that nobody wants. He is overseeing the demise of Dublin Airport and, what's worse, Lenihan ( Minister for Finance) appoints him to the board of AIB (Allied Irish Banks) as a public interest director. Totally ludicrous, but unfortunately utterly predictable for this useless Government."