Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are a few different reforms being proposed.

The Secretaries General of Departments are paid at three levels. That is something I did not know about until recent months. I am glad to say that, even though I have served in government for quite some time, I have managed not to take an interest, or get too involved, in how much individuals are paid in Departments. I do not think that is a role for politicians. They are graded at three different levels. That is now being reviewed, particularly given that the spec of the job and the size of certain Departments have changed pretty fundamentally. Everyone will know that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs was a relatively small Department under its former Ministers, Ms Katherine Zappone, Deputy Flanagan and Ms Frances Fitzgerald. It is now a huge Department that is also responsible for disability, international protection and our response to the crisis in refugees coming from Ukraine. It is a different Department. Similarly, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has a budget that has ballooned in recent years. It has a nearly €5 billion budget now whereas it used to be a relatively small Department in the past. There will be an independent assessment as to whether those positions should be regraded or not. I am sure the Government will accept the outcome of that process.

See this speech in context