Decision to raise salary of top job in Health to €292k 'stinks to high heaven'

Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy told meeting of the Public Accounts Committee the move raises serious questions

Robert Watt is filling the role of the secretary-general of the Department of Health on an interim basis. The PAC has questioned his role in setting the salary of €292,000.

The decision to raise the salary of the new secretary-general of the Department of Health "stinks to high heaven", the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee has been told.

The position is being filled on an interim basis by Robert Watt, the former secretary-general of the Department of Public Expenditure and the PAC has asked questions over Mr Watt and his department's role in setting the wage in his new job, which is €81,000 more than other secretaries-general.