After some soul-searching, the board of Carbery has given itself a pay rise, I see.

The farmer directors, from each of the four west Cork co-ops, were on a yearly retainer of €8,000, plus €500 for each Carbery meeting they attended. The retainer is now increased to €16,000, while the €500 is unchanged.

The chairs and chief executives of the four west Cork co-ops also sit on the board – and didn’t leave themselves out. The retainer for the chairs is to rise from €15,000 to €25,000 per annum. The retainer for the CEOs rises from €5,000 to €7,500.

The chairs receive €500 per meeting but CEOs don’t.

Decision

The increase was decided by the Carbery remuneration committee, which is made up of the five farmer members of the board including Carbery chair Peter Fleming of Barryroe.

When an increase was proposed, the remuneration committee wisely sought advice from an outside expert, who luckily concluded that existing fees were “under the national average”.

News of the decision was brought back to recent board meetings at the four west Cork co-ops and is now filtering out to ordinary milk suppliers.

Top milk price

Given that the Carbery board, under the leadership of Fleming and new Carbury CEO Jason Hawkins, delivers the country’s top milk price, those suppliers seem to be relaxed about the increase.

Carbery board gives itself a pay rise

When an increase was proposed, the Carbery remuneration committee wisely sought advice from an outside expert, who luckily concluded that existing fees were 'under the national average'.