Stephen Donnelly challenged on €80k pay rise for Department of Health secretary

On whether the secretary general could take the pay rise as PUP payments are cut, Donnelly responded: "We'll see what happens in two or three months but no, I don't think that would send out the right signal."

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly was challenged on Tuesday night's Prime Time over the €81,000 pay rise for Department of Health secretary general Robert Watt. Watt was due to see a pay rise of €81,000 per year in the role but has said he will temporarily waive the salary increase. The secretary general didn't give any specifics as to when he would waive the pay rise until, saying he would do so until the economy begins to recover and unemployment falls. Asked on Prime Time if Donnelly knew when Watt intends to take the increase, Donnelly responded: "He's waived it on two criteria. So, the answer would be when those criteria change." Prime Time presenter Sarah McInerney later asked Donnelly that if, in two or three months time the population is vaccinated and the employment situation has improved, and as such the economy, if Watt would take it then. Donnelly responded: "Really that's a decision for him obviously. It's really not for me to comment on." Referring to Finance Minister Michael McGrath stating that Pandemic Unemployment Payments could be seeing cuts in the coming months, McInerney asked if that would be a good time for Watt to take his pay increase. Donnelly replied: "Well look, we'll see what happens in two or three months but no, I don't think that would send out the right signal." Watch the segment of the interview below.

.@SarahAMcInerney asks Minister for Health @DonnellyStephen about Secretary General Robert Watt's decision to waive a salary increase "until the economy begins to recover and unemployment falls" #rtept pic.twitter.com/C7ZbX4feFB

— RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) April 27, 2021