Salary of Health Sec Gen set to breach €300,000 while ordinary workers & families struggle– Matt Carthy TD
Revelations that the Secretary General of the Department of Health secured yet another pay rise of almost €3,000 was the subject of huge criticism by Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, in the Dáil last week.
The Cavan Monaghan representative challenged the Taoiseach for standing over ‘a further indefensible pay rise of €3,000’ for Mr. Robert Watt as this hike follows a previous increase of €3,000 last November and an initial €81,000 increase in the salary agreed by government.
Mr. Watt was appointed to the role with a controversial salary increase, leading to a joint investigation by the Oireachtas Committees on Finance and Public Accounts which concluded that there was no process or rationale to justify the increase.
Teachta Carthy told An Taoiseach Michéal Martin said:
“The pay for the Secretary General of the Department of Health went up yesterday by €3,000. That is on top of the increase last November of €3,000.
“That is on top of the additional €81,000 on which the Taoiseach, Minister Eamon Ryan, and the Tánaiste collectively agreed, without any process, rationale or justification.
“There is no justification.
“His salary now stands at €297,869. Compare that to the head of the British NHS, whose salary is £199,000.
“Does the Taoiseach recognise just how disgusting this scenario is when he is looking for plaudits for giving front-line healthcare workers €1,000? He has done virtually nothing for all those workers and families who are struggling to make ends meet.
“Yet, he took €87,000 of their money and handed it to one of the highest paid civil servants in the world.
“Does the Taoiseach regret his role in this grubby affair?
“Will he now move to restore the salary to the Secretary General level at a rate that was based on some level of due process?”
ENDS
