Unite, the largest trade union in the Central Bank has written to the bank objecting to secret bonus payments which were paid to a cohort of managers.
The Central Bank has confirmed that 30 people have been awarded the bonuses at a total cost of just over €500,000, or an average of under €17,000 - with some officials earning more than €20,000 extra.
"These payments are made in a number of tranches designed to ensure the continuity of service of staff," the bank said in a statement.
Unite says that these bonuses are in breach of the Government’s Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act (FEMPI), which was brought in during the downturn to cut public sector pay and to ban bonus payments.
The Irish Independent reports this morning that Unite is taking legal advice on this issue.
"Following the pay cuts suffered by our members, they will be appalled that the Bank has engaged in these actions without their knowledge," Unite's regional officer Colm Quinlan said.
The Central Bank's out-going Governor, Patrick Honohan has been critical of the role that the ECB played in Ireland's economic crisis.
