Top level candidates scared from positions by media and Dail committees

A senior government official has controversially claimed potential candidates for top-level jobs are being frightened away because of the level of scrutiny they will be subjected to by the media and Dáil committees.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s secretary general Robert Watt made the claim during the latest meeting of the Dáil public accounts committee, alleging the “risk” is too great for most people to accept public roles.

In recent months, Government has been increasingly criticised for failing to fill a series of high-profile positions, including the replacement of ex-Department of Justice secretary general Brian Purcell whose post has been empty for 18 months.