Varadkar: Top civil servant's salary is a 'private matter'

Under GDPR the salaries and and pension arrangements of civil servants are a private matter

Secretary general at the Department of Health was controversially awarded an €81,000 pay increase when he was appointed secretary general in the Department of Health last year, which brought his salary to €292,000. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The top civil servant in the Department of Health does not have to reveal whether he has taken an €81,000 pay increase as it is a "private matter", the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said.

Robert Watt was controversially awarded an €81,000 pay increase when he was appointed secretary general in the Department of Health last year, which brought his salary to €292,000.