Begg says his call to nationalise banks is ICTU position

[Conor]

So is there going to be a special 'union fat-cat' tax band then of 48%?

A "high earners" tax band. There's no particular reason for the tax code to individuate union fat-cats from all the other fat-cats.

[atlantic]

So this man was a member of the board of directors of the central bank,when the ECB had interest rates lower than inflation.!

[essexboy]

I think the entire non executive director system in Ireland is a joke.

The idea that ICTU should have a rep on the board of the Central Bank and on boards like Aer Lingus makes no sense whatsoever. Its an old boys (and girls) network. These companies should be operating to a level of transparency that allows us all to feel confident in what they are doing. Putting Begg (and others) in there creates an automatic conflict of interest.

I also think that ODCE needs to ban every current NED in the banks for (say) 12 months for a serious dereliction of their duties. Each of the banks to a greater or lessor extent became significantly over extended and over exposed to property and property related. It is the job of the directors to ensure that doesn't happen. NEDs in Ireland have had a very different approach for the last number of decades whereby they see their role as simply to turn up, go through the motions, sign off on whatever the Exec Mgmt team wants and have some lunch.

Whinging and complaining about this achieves nothing - you need a real incentive and I would go so far as to guarantee you that if ODCE announced bans on NEDs you would find resignations from these sinecures all over town and we would then be forced to construct proper boards operating proper governance policies rather than monthly lunch bunch meetings.

NED. What a good choice of words. In Scotland [SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Black][COLOR=black]ne[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Arial Black][COLOR=black]d[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE] is defined as "a hooligan or petty criminal, a stupid or loutish boy or man."

[Abaddon]

Are any of you whiners criticizing Begg actually in a union?

[eurosceptic]

I am reminded of begg pushing for ictu to endorse lisbon while at the same time being a leading member of the european movement. We need a full investigation of this select elite who have fingers in every pie!

[jpc]

Symptomatic of so many things in this country.
Keep all the players sweet by giving them little perks.
Entitlements of reaching the top tier.
How many other individuals are similarly comprimised?

[Middleaged]

Are any of you whiners criticizing Begg actually in a union?

This whinger is'nt. Not sure what difference it makes or are you going to defend Begg €100k plus salary from ICTU, the fee he receives from sitting on the Board of the Central Bank, the fee Aer Lingus pays him for being a Board Member. I'd say he safely earns €150 to €175k a year, and he worries about the lower paid...........

Bare in mind decisions of not awarding SR technics further maintenance contracts by Aer Lingus assisted in that companies demise, these workers were at the front of Saturdays march.

If Begg wants to be seen as a Union Leader, why does he have all these directorships?.

[MortgageBroker]

ask me, begg is himself a 'fat cat'

[jerryp]

This whinger is'nt. Not sure what difference it makes or are you going to defend Begg €100k plus salary from ICTU, the fee he receives from sitting on the Board of the Central Bank, the fee Aer Lingus pays him for being a Board Member. I'd say he safely earns €150 to €175k a year, and he worries about the lower paid...........

Bare in mind decisions of not awarding SR technics further maintenance contracts by Aer Lingus assisted in that companies demise, these workers were at the front of Saturdays march.

If Begg wants to be seen as a Union Leader, why does he have all these directorships?.

As has been pointed out here before, Begg does not personally receive a fee / salary for being on Aer Lingus board. Who would you have there instead of him, Ulick McEvaddy or some other heroes ?

[Thac0man]

As has been pointed out here before, Begg does not personally receive a fee / salary for being on Aer Lingus board. Who would you have there instead of him, Ulick McEvaddy or some other heroes ?

What does Ulick McEvaddy know about running an air line? About as much as David Begg. Who ever has a seat on the Board of Aer Lingus should be someone who is in a position to help run the company. Begg brings nothing to the role.