AN official attempt to block the appointment of top civil servant Robert Watt as the new Secretary General of the Department of Health is firmly underway. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has agreed to send a letter seeking the suspension of the recruitment process for the new secretary general, with Mr Watt acting as “interim” head of the department. Members decided against an alternative proposal to send a second letter to the CPP saying the letter seeking suspension of recruitment process should not be seen as the PAC examining the issue already. Mr Watt is a former Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, headed by Minister Michael McGrath, who has defended the restructuring of Mr Watt’s remuneration package. Minister Michael McGrath was asked to confirm that there would be no salary increases for other Secretary General positions if there were to become available in different departments.

Source: Irish Independent February 09, 2021 18:11 UTC