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.

However, despite being told by public spending watchdog the PAC he will not “engender sympathy” due to the remarks, Mr Watt responded by bluntly pointing out “the pay is too low and the risk is too great for people in the private sector [to accept appointments]”.

“There’s a real challenge to get people to offer themselves forward for leadership positions. The major problem is because of pay, but when it comes to committees and media treatment, they are treated very badly.

“Some people don’t like the idea of being grilled for hours in a committee, and not everybody fancies it,” said the senior civil servant, adding he does not believe the “ethical standards” of media outlets are as high as “what it was five to 10 years ago”.

“Many candidates cited treatment in the media. You and I might think that is nonsensical, that they should grow up, but that’s my honest view,” he insisted.

Over the past year the PAC has repeatedly caught public attention for its intense discussions of government officials and representatives of publicly funded organisations, including controversies surrounding the Central Remedial Clinic and Rehab in late 2013 and early 2014.

Fine Gael TD John Deasy

The issue has led to official rebukes from the Dáil’s procedure and privileges committee and criticism over the level of media coverage involved, alongside praise for uncovering previously hidden scandals surrounding public money.

While Mr Watt declined to name any specific committee when asked by the PAC which group he had in mind and was told by Fine Gael TD John Deasy “you’re not going to engender too much sympathy”, the same TD accepted there was a point to the concern as “sometimes the word ‘outrage’ flutters through this room like confetti, it’s [the committee] dealt with some members as a form of theatre, for publicity reasons”.

PAC chair and Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness

However, PAC chair and Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness strongly disagreed, insisting the level of scrutiny is “the nature of democracy” and that if candidates are not willing to provide complete transparency on their actions “maybe you’re better off without them”.

Mr Watt’s remarks could lead to potential sanction as his role precludes him from giving public opinions on matters which do not relate to the everyday working of his own department.