Trade union Siptu has condemned the "arrogance and hypocrisy" of Bord na Móna's management after revelations the company paid a benefit-in-kind tax bill for the €127,000 electric BMW used by the chief executive and for his health insurance at a cost of €64,000.
Speaking about the revelations, Siptu divisional organiser Adrian Kane said: "The largesse that Bord na Móna demonstrates towards its senior management contrasts sharply with its miserly approach to workers in recent years.
"When it comes to the just transition and climate change, management's policy appears to be six-figure electric cars for chief executives but unemployment for workers in Derrinlough. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, that arrogance and hypocrisy will be difficult for our members to stomach.
"As a publicly-supported body, it is vital that Bord na Móna comes forward and clarifies whether other individuals in senior management are in receipt of similar lavish arrangements."
Meanwhile, Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd described the actions as “unacceptable”.
Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, Mr O’Dowd, who received the details in a series of responses to parliamentary questions he put to the Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan, said that both the cost of the car and the covering of the BIK were unacceptable.
“Ordinary Joe soaps” would be shocked that a CEO’s bill for BIK would be covered by a semi-state company, he said. The Bord Na Móna CEO Tom Donnellan should pay his own BIK, he added.
According to details released to Mr O’Dowd the car provided for Mr Donnellan was an electric BMW iX Sport 5-door SUV worth €127,000. The car has €14,000 of factory extras included – such as metallic paint and a comfort plus pack worth €5,170.
Mr O’Dowd said that most people could only dream of having a car like that. “There should be a maximum ceiling of €60,000 set by the Government for car purchase for any semi-state chief executive and if they wish for a higher spec they should pay it themselves.
“It's unacceptable that amount of money being spent on a car. It is absolutely unacceptable. It's not good value for money. It’s an appalling situation that money is being wasted on a car of that cost.
“I don't see why Bord Na Móna don't actually pay the chief executive officer that amount of money in his pay,” he said.
“I know many people who drive a company car, and they're telling me that after the last budget they were having great difficulty to pay their BIK.
“My own friend’s BIK went from €60 to €100 per week for his company car, and that was on top of increased mortgage payments and having a young family. So the ordinary Joe soap out there, he's finding it very difficult to pay his BIK. I think it's a huge issue,” said Mr O’Dowd.
