'Appropriate' for Robert Watt to answer salary questions, says Darragh O'Brien

Mr Watt was appointed secretary-general of the Department of Health on a salary of €292,000 last April and on Monday the 'Irish Examiner' revealed he had received a €2,920 salary top-up in October

Robert Watt's salary now stands at €294,920, official figures released by the Department of Public Expenditure show. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

It would be appropriate for Department of Health boss Robert Watt to answer questions surrounding his pay increase, the Housing Minister has said, saying there "shouldn't be any secrets around salaries".

Mr Watt was appointed secretary-general of the department on a salary of €292,000 last April and on Monday the Irish Examiner revealed he had received a €2,920 salary top-up in October.