Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for her questions and her contribution. As she said, it falls on me ultimately to make decisions on salary. For the vast majority of positions across the public service, it is done on a collective basis in relation to agreements entered into. As the Senator is aware, balloting is under way at present for the proposed new public service pay deal. For certain very senior public servants, however, it is open to Governments to arrive - and down the years Governments have arrived - at bespoke arrangements where they believe it is warranted in the given circumstances. There used to be a review body on higher remuneration levels in the public service but as that body was discontinued in 2009, there is not any such body at this time. The statutory role is with the Minister and it has to be exercised judiciously.

In making the decision in this case, I consulted a number of people at senior level across the Government and within the pay division of my Department.

I am aware of the risks. Reference was made earlier to the memorandum in question, on which I ultimately signed off. It points to the obvious risk that it could lead to pay demands from others at senior levels within the public service, although I am not sure that will be so great a problem as people expect. This is such an important and serious role that if whoever comes through the process does a really good job and improves the performance in the Department of Health overall, I have no doubt it will have been worth it.