Carlow Kilkenny TD John McGuinness has said Health Minister Stephen Donnelly should resign if he is not willing to account for his role in the €81,000 pay rise given to Department of Health secretary-general Robert Watt.
According to the Irish Independent, the Fianna Fail TD said Mr Watt should also consider his position over the long-running controversy and accused the two senior figures of showing contempt to the Oireachtas Finance Committee by refusing to come before them to discuss the salary top-up.
“Minister Donnelly and Secretary-General Watt have refused to appear before any committees to explain their actions,” he said.
“That is a contemptuous act, ill-becoming of a minister or a senior civil servant."
“In so doing, they have disrespected the Dáil and laid a trail for others to follow that damages governance, accountability and transparency in this country.
"They should be ashamed of themselves. I believe both Minister Donnelly and Secretary General Watt should fully account for their actions to the Dáil or resign.”
