Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath has been asked if the Government now believes that the salary increase of more than â¬80,000 for the role of Department of Health secretary general was âunnecessaryâ and âunwarrantedâ given that it is being waived by Robert Watt.
The same question has been posed to secretary general to the Government Martin Fraser by the Oireachtas Committee on Finance.
It comes as it continues its joint investigation with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) into pay levels for senior public servants in the wake of the controversy over the increase in salary for the Department of Health job to â¬292,000.
Robert Watt, newly appointed Secretary General of the Department of Health
Robert Watt appointed new Secretary General at Department of Health
Cabinet approves permanent appointment
The appointment of Robert Watt as Secretary General at the Department of Health, has been made, following Cabinet approval today (April 20).
Watt’s appointment was made through the independent process of the Top-Level Appointments Committee (TLAC).
“I was delighted to be asked to take on the role of Interim Secretary General in the Department of Health earlier this year,” he said.
“An open TLAC competition was held, and I am pleased to be asked to take on this role on a permanent basis following the Government meeting today.