Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise the decision taken by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, as party leaders, to award a pay increase of €81,000 to the incoming Secretary General of the Department of Health. How on earth does the Taoiseach regard that as appropriate at a time when so many people's incomes have collapsed, when the Government is taxing pandemic unemployment payments, PUP, and has come up with a proposal for a measly, miserly €100 allowance per student nurses? In that context, how does the Government have no problem splashing the cash for Ministers of State, special advisers and now for senior civil servants when it comes up with nothing but tough luck for all those outside the Government's cosy circle? Can we please have an explanation from the Taoiseach as to why that decision was taken and the rationale for it? Will he confirm that he did sign off on it? Above all else, can he express an understanding that it is necessary to reverse that decision and tell us how we will go about that?

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