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Friday 31 March 2023 Dublin: 9°C

# Robert Watt

This year
2023
# Robert Watt
Nursing home charges: Legal strategy was 'never challenged' by politicians, says top civil servant
Many medical card holders who were in long-term care between 1976 to 2005 had to pay when it should have been free.
Last year
2022
# HEALTH OVERHAUL
Fianna Fáil TD calls for Robert Watt to be made boss of the HSE and the Dept of Health
Barry Cowen believes it is time to share leadership between the two bodies.
# job vacancy
'Remuneration is significant': No appetite in Govt to increase €420k salary for next HSE boss
Questions have been raised about whether tensions between the HSE and Department of Health played a part in Paul Reid’s decision to step down.
# Robert Watt
Working conditions for non-consultant hospital doctors must change, senior civil servant says
The Secretary General of the Department of Health said many doctors already work longer hours than what is considered legal and safe.
# PAC
'Outrageous': Over 75s face average wait of 20 hours in some Emergency Departments
PAC Chair Brian Stanley said wait times in emergency departments is an intolerable situation in a well funded health system.
# Health Committee
'You lost the run of yourself': Robert Watt grilled by TDs over Holohan secondment to Trinity
The Secretary General of the Department of Health appeared before the Oireachtas Health Committee this morning.
# abandoned secondment
Robert Watt to tell TDs he 'regrets' that Tony Holohan won't be taking up Trinity job
The Secretary General of the Department of Health will attend the Oireachtas Health Committee with Holohan tomorrow.
# cmo
Sen Gen Robert Watt and Dr Tony Holohan to appear before Oireachtas health committee next week
Secretary General Martin Fraser was quizzed by politicians at the Oireachtas Finance Committee today.
# sec gen
Robert Watt's 'refusal' to appear before Oireachtas Committee may force Dail vote
The committee will seek powers to compel the Secretary General of the Department of Health to appear before it.
# CMO trinity job
'Who's running the country?': Sec Gen 'snub' of Oireachtas committee raised with Taoiseach
TD John McGuinness has written to Robert Watt to convey disappointment at the lack of response to an invitation.
# dept of health
Donnelly and Watt criticised for rejecting committee appearance over Holohan secondment
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said today that Stephen Donnelly ‘has not refused to go before any committee’.
# Maura Quinn
Maura Quinn to head up review of Tony Holohan's abandoned secondment to Trinity
Quinn is the the outgoing Chief Executive of the Institute of Directors.
Voices
Denis Naughten: The only winners in the Holohan job debacle will be large consultancy firms
The independent TD says the mishandling of a potential move by the CMO to Trinity College is a wasted opportunity.
# botched appointment
Donnelly orders external review into Tony Holohan's abandoned secondment at Trinity College
The Health Minister said he ordered the review “to examine learnings and recommendations that could inform future such initiatives”.
# CMO's department move
Watt report says it is normal practice for minister not to receive details of every secondment
Dr Holohan says he will not be proceeding with the TCD role as a Professor of Public Health Strategy and Leadership.
# cmo
Donnelly receives report on Dr Tony Holohan's abandoned secondment to Trinity
The report was compiled by the Secretary General of the Department of Health, Robert Watt.
# confrontation
'Banter can happen': Taoiseach won't confront minister or civil servant about war of words in pub
The Irish Daily Mail reported that Watt, one of the country’s top civil servants confronted the housing minister in a crowded pub.
# sláintecare
Deferrals caused by Covid will increase hospital waiting lists this year, says Health Sec Gen
Over 1.5 million people will be added to the waiting lists this year, the Oireachtas Health Committee will hear.
# Secretary General
Department of Health confirms Robert Watt is now in receipt of full €292,000 salary
The Secretary General had temporarily waived an €81,000 pay rise.
# Sec Gen Job
Did the country's top civil servant accept an €81K pay rise? Varadkar says it's not for him to say
‘Transparency is always useful in these matters,’ a spokesperson for the Taoiseach has said.
All time
# Robert Watt
No ‘vast conspiracy’ to delay Sláintecare, committee told
Robert Watt, the secretary general of the Department of Health, faced the Health Committee alongside Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.
# Joint Health Committee
Robert Watt says 'no evidence' Department of Health was 'prying on families'
RTÉ said the Department of Health was invited by RTÉ Investigates to participate in the programme, contrary to claims made by Watt.
# Secretary General
Robert Watt appointed head of Department of Health and says he will waive €81k pay rise for now
Opposition TDs have criticised Watt’s decision to temporarily waive the “shocking” and “berserk” increase.
# Pay increase
Harris says it's 'important' Oireachtas gets opportunity to scrutinise salary hike for new Dept of Health Sec Gen
Questions have been raised about the government’s decision to sanction a pay rise of €81,000 for the post.
FAI announce appointment of top civil servant as fourth independent director
Robert Watt joins the board alongside Roy Barrett, Catherine Guy and Liz Joyce.
# Robert Watt
'Who took this decision?': Top civil servant queried decision not to publish pensions paid to former Taoisigh
DPER Secretary General Robert Watt told an official: “I don’t understand why we should not release the information.”
# government formation
Ambitious emissions targets will cost the taxpayer, says top government official
A 7% reduction in emissions year-on-year is a red line for the Green Party.
# Public Services Card
Top civil servant not attending committee is 'an affront to democracy'
Chairperson John McGuinness says committee wants to discuss the cost of the PSC to date.
# rural wifi
'It is not our job to hide our views': Top civil servant who warned against broadband plan stands over his opinion
Watt caused controversy recently when documents warning the government against proceeding with the NBP were published.
# Robert Watt
Top civil servant: 'Government should be able to walk away from projects if the cost works out greater than expected'
Watt previously warned ministers about not proceeding with the national broadband plan.
# FOI
Government officials had 'serious reservations' about broadband plan cost before final tender was submitted
Documents released under FOI show how members of the Cabinet privately raised concerns about the plan.
# National Broadband Plan
Top civil servant who warned against broadband plan questioned behind closed doors
Robert Watt warned ‘strongly recommended against’ the decision to proceed with the NBP.
# top banker
Fancy being the next governor of the Central Bank? New appointment rules have been approved
New procedures were approved by Cabinet today.
# not the same
Top civil servant says you can't compare how Dermot Bannon delivers projects to that of the children's hospital
The government is going to stop accepting ‘guesstimates’ for large-scale projects.
# Children's Hospital
Sec Gen accused of calling committee 'a mob', Robert Watt says he didn't recall and did not mean to offend
Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane said there is a level of contempt being shown to Oireachtas committees.
# Cough Cough
These are the government departments with the highest rates of absenteeism
The sector’s head said there were an ‘unacceptable’ number of sick days being taken in the public service.
# Reforms
New plan will make it easier to sack civil servants who are doing a bad job
While staff in the civil service who do well will be recognised – but not with bonuses.
# MacGill
Top civil servant: Public sector workers who don't perform should 'of course' be sacked
Senior civil servant Robert Watt called for a debate on making it easier to sack public sector workers at the MacGill Summer School yesterday.
# MacGill
This top civil servant wants to talk about making it easier to sack public sector workers
Robert Watt has admitted it is easier to sack workers in the private sector than it is in the public sector.
# Travel allowances
Oireachtas questioning legal advice about use of travel expenses
The head of the Houses of the Oreachtas Commission believes allowances should not cover travel around the country.