Taoiseach Brian Cowen is the world's fourth highest paid leader
Taoiseach Brian Cowen is the fourth highest paid head of state worldwide.
His salary, reported today in dollars, puts him behind the Prime Minister of Singapore who has an annual pay of 2.75 million, Hong Kong's Donald Tsang is second on 515 million. US President Barack Obama earns 400 thousand dollars, just ahead of Brian Cowen on 342 thousand dollars.
The Taoiseach earns more than the French President, The South African President, The Prime Ministers of Australia and Canada, and the German Chancellor.
Mr Cowen even earns more than new British Prime Minister David Cameron.