A bonus by any other name is still a bonus - even in utility firm

Fionnan Sheahan

What a way to dispel suggestions of being "another cosseted quango with a bonus culture" - get into a ridiculous dispute about the interpretation of the terms bonus and performance- related pay.

A bonus is a top-up payment made to staff as a reward for reaching certain targets. You could call it pay related to their performance.

What's the difference? None.

One-third of Irish Water staff are set to receive performance-related pay.

Official figures provided by Irish Water itself to a Coalition TD outline the generous bonuses and salaries to be paid to its staff and show 165 staff will qualify for bonuses of up to 6.5pc of their salary, while some 65 staff are set be paid an extra 14pc.

But Irish Water spokeswoman Elizabeth Arnett repeatedly claimed these were not 'bonuses'.

"We have a performance related pay structure approved by Government that is in place in other utilities," she told RTE's Sean O'Rourke.

Ms Arnett said she can certainly understand why people could get "upset" at the thought this was a bonus culture, but it wasn't.

"I am not telling porkies. I am telling it as it is. I am telling it straight and honestly," she said.

It's not the first time Irish Water showed it was out of touch on the same programme.

Earlier this year, the company's managing director John Tierney caused consternation by revealing details of its payments to consultants. And yet the lesson hasn't been learned.

No wonder Irish Water is justifiably accused of having a communications problem with the public.