Head of the Department of Health to take €81,000 pay increase when economy begins to recover

The new head of the Department of Health has said he'll take his €81,000 pay increase when the economy begins to recover. 

Robert Watt was formally appointed by cabinet this morning but has waived the increase that would have brought his pay to €292,000.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has defended the pay increase saying it's in line with the scale of the job in the Department of Health. 

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy says the increase sets a dangerous precedent for civil servant pay: "I think it signals an approach in terms for other secretary generals in terms of pay scales and it's very difficult to see how this won't have a knock on consequences."