Varadkar: Watt does not have to divulge if he has taken €81k raise

Sinn Féin's Louise O'Reilly said: "It shouldn't be lost on people that when there's money to be doled out, carers were left at the very bottom of that list."

Robert Watt's €81,000 pay increase brought his salary to €292,000. Photo: Gareth Chaney / Collins

The Department of Health's top civil servant does not have to reveal whether he has taken an €81,000 pay increase as it is a "private matter", the Tánaiste 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. This brought his salary to €292,000. While this top-up was temporarily waived, it is unclear whether Mr Watt has since accepted the increase.