Sinn Féin TD for Cavan/Monaghan and member of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee, Matt Carthy, has slammed the government’s decision today to appoint Robert Watt as the new Secretary General of the Department of Health on a salary of €292,000. 

Teachta Carthy said:

“The government are trying to sugar-coat the appointment of Robert Watt as Secretary General of the Department of Health on a salary of €292,000 today by temporarily waiving the shocking €81,000 salary increase, but this is a just another stroke in this sorry saga.

“The reality is that the Cabinet have today signed off on this is absolutely shocking increase – when there has been no justification provided for the additional €81,000 in pay provided for this position.

“The Public Accounts Committee has called for the recruitment process to be stalled pending a full review of the remuneration package, and along with the Dáil’s Finance Committees had agreed a joint framework for reviewing this unprecedented salary hike. 

“That the former Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure – who previously had responsibility for managing public sector pay scales – could move to another Department with a substantial salary hike for which there was no process, no rationale and no justification is a reflection of the government’s priorities and their views. 

“This process has all the hallmarks of a good old-fashioned stoke. There are massive public concerns around this and we will continue pressing for Oireachtas Committees to examine this appointment.”