Watt appointment to Department of Health ‘damaged public trust’, draft report says
Cross-party report criticises process by which Robert Watt became secretary general of the Department of Health, and got a €81k pay rise
The government followed “no formal process” when appointing Robert Watt secretary general of the Department of Health on a salary of €292,000, according to a report which will be published later today.
And Watt, who first took on the role in January 2021, showed a lack of regard for the work of an Oireachtas committee by declining to attend a hearing on the issue, the cross-party review said.
The report, a draft copy of which was seen by the Business Post, also said the finance committee and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) were “no less concerned” about the details of Watt’s appointment after conducting joint inquiries over recent months.
