Health chief’s pay package defended

THE Government has defended breaking its own strict pay guidelines to head-hunt a health service chief, arguing that the job requirements justify the high salary.

Top-level public servants have demanded an immediate pay review after it was revealed that new Health Service Executive chief executive Professor Aidan Halligan will receive €335,000 a year plus a 25% performance bonus.

This is almost double the €185,000 paid to the head of the Department of Health, Michael Kelly. Dubliner Professor Halligan, at present deputy chief medical officer for England, will manage a €10 billion budget and 96,000 staff.