Taoiseach says €81,000 salary rise for health boss is justified
MICHEÁL Martin has defended the controversial €81,000 pay rise for the role of secretary general in the Department of Health.
The Taoiseach cited the ‘enormous transformation’ the health service needs, as well as its expansive budget – the largest of any Government department – as justification for the salary increase to an astonishing €292,000.
The issue was raised in the Dáil yesterday by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who criticised the Coalition leaders for awarding the pay rise at a time when they were taxing Pandemic Unemployment Payment recipients.
‘How on earth does the Taoiseach regard that as appropriate at a time when so many people’s incomes have collapsed, when the Government is taxing Pandemic Unemployment Payments, and has come up with a proposal for a miserly €100 allowance for student nurses?’ she asked.
Mr Martin responded that the €81,000 salary increase was justified because of the responsibilities that come with the role. He even cited the National Children’s Hospital, which has been dogged by financial controversies.
He said: ‘The Government decided on this increase in respect of the post of secretary general for the Department of Health given the enormous transformation that is required in our health service over the next several years.
‘Without doubt, it is the largest-spending department, which has had an extraordinary allocation again this year of an additional €4billion. If we take one project, such as the National Children’s Hospital, which now costs close to €2billion.’ Ms McDonald said his mention of the expensive children’s hospital project would ‘not improve anyone’s mood’. The Government landed itself in hot water this month when it approved the movement of Department of Public Expenditure secretary general Robert Watt to the Department of Health on an interim basis. Should he be appointed on a full-time basis, his salary will have increased by €91,000 per annum to an eye-watering €292,000. By comparison, the Taoiseach earns €207,590 a year. Oireachtas committees – including the Dáil spending watchdog, the Public Accounts Committee – are investigating the pay rise and transfer of Mr Watt.