agreed to set the new pay rate at about €300,000 per year, following representations made by Minister for Environment, Climate and Communicationstold the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications in June that the salary of €250,000 paid to the previous chief executive was set at an “inadequate level to attract the type of candidate that we would consider the role requires, particularly if we are interested in enticing international candidates”.
However, newly released official files show that Mr Ryan had in more recent times sought Government approval to increase Mr Foley’s pay. Following the departure of Mr Foley in April 2024 EirGrid’s board, after discussions with an executive search company, put forward a draft role profile for the new chief executive.