Ian Guider's Market Talk

Expect plenty of anger from the public sector if banks start doling out huge bonuses again

Richie Boucher, chief executive, Bank of Ireland Pic: Bryan Meade

Are bonuses for bankers on the way back?

A few years ago, the then chairman of AIB, David Hodgkinson, strode into the Department of Finance seeking permission from Michael Noonan to put in place a share options scheme to reward AIB’s senior executives.

The details of the conversation and what exactly was sought was never revealed but Hodgkinson was given a firm no and sent packing. At the time the reason was obvious: ...