Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The selection of a person to fill the post of Secretary General in the Department of Health was an independent process, the Top-Level Appointments Committee, TLAC, process. It was open to international competition for anybody to apply, and quite a number of people applied. The person selected is experienced and has served in various capacities within the public service. He would be regarded as a senior experienced public servant. It was an independent selection process. Deputy McDonald should not cast aspersions on the individual implicitly, as she has done in the presentation she has made.

In respect of the health service more generally and other areas, salary increases have occurred. There was a view that we wanted to create a new situation in terms of An Garda Síochána, the HSE and health. We are determined to make a change in health that will be of a transformative kind in terms of our health service, not just for now but into the future at all levels of our health services, because that is required.

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