James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I must point out again that earlier Deputy Ó Caoláin argued that we should open this up to wider public opportunity but the reality is that if I was to offer the remuneration to which the Deputy refers, there would be little or no interest. It is difficult enough as it is, with the Government cap, to attract the calibre of people that we need to bring into our services to deliver for our people. The current director general designate will be on a salary of €195,450 per annum, as director general. The previous incumbent was on €300,000 per annum, plus additional benefits. This is a substantial reduction. The posts of national director, level two, have been approved with a salary of €158,000. The chief financial officer and the chief operational officer will be at national director, level one, with salaries of €172,000. These are substantial salaries but these are jobs that have huge responsibility associated with them.

I have already made my point with regard to the generality to which the Deputy alludes. I do not believe it is reasonable to ask what the Deputy suggests in his amendments and I do not propose to accept them. However, I will confirm to the Deputy that I am certainly doing an awful lot more for an awful lot less remuneration and I know that most politicians are, but so be it. We put ourselves forward and asked the people to give us the honour and privilege of serving them and are delighted to do it. It would not be appropriate, however, to try to lay our own personal choices down as absolutely mandatory for all others who work in the public sector. I believe these salaries are set at a level that reflects the huge responsibility that the people who occupy these positions will have. If they deliver, as I expect they will, we will have a much improved health service.

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