Waging a war over Watt’s worth: The appointment that has split Irish politics

Even if he does prove to be a success at the Department of Health, Robert Watt’s reported annual pay package of €292,000 has raised plenty of eyebrows – and hackles

Robert Watt’s take-home pay as secretary general of the Department of Health is set to rise to €292,000. Picture: Collins Dublin/Gareth Chaney

Last weekend, a WhatsApp message comparing Ireland to “Putin’s Russia” was sent by Marc MacSharry to the Taoiseach, Fianna Fáil ministers and several of the party’s TDs.

The Sligo-Leitrim TD had read a report that the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) was about to recommend that Robert Watt should take over the position of secretary general at the Department of Health on a permanent basis. He wasn’t happy about it, and he decided to let ...