THE IRISH Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has accused the State's seven universities of engaging in "secret pay arrangements'' with senior staff.
Earlier this year, IFUT revealed the very high salaries paid to some senior academic and administrative staff at UCD after a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
Yesterday, it said it had established how similar arrangements were in place in the other universities.
The universities are unapologetic about these high salaries, saying they are necessary to recruit the best staff.
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has released the names of all of those who have been awarded exceptionally high levels of pay, but it will not disclose the salaries paid.
According to Mike Jennings, general secretary of IFUT, "this level of secrecy is a direct attack on the principles of openness and transparency".
A HEA spokesman said the issue of releasing the salaries paid is now under appeal in the Freedom of Information process.
He also said the HEA was guided by the need to protect the negotiating position of the universities in future discussions with prospective staff.
About 33 of the 10,000 staff at third-level receive exceptional payments, according to the HEA.
Mr Jennings said IFUT had no objection to the payment of world- class salaries to world-class academics. However, "it amounts to rank hypocrisy to claim on the one hand that current university salaries are competitive by international standards while simultaneously sanctioning secret salary levels to a chosen minority based on the premise that they would otherwise not work in Ireland for Irish university pay levels".
