Harris to consider cap on pay for Department secretaries-general

There is “merit” to considering a cap on pay for the secretaries-general of Government departments, Simon Harris has said.

It was recently reported that the salary for Department of Health secretary-general Robert Watt would rise to 326,000 euro by 2026 following the ratification of a new public-sector pay deal.

It comes after the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) ratified a new public service pay agreement last month, backdated from January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026.

The agreement with Government sees pay improvements worth 9.25% – with a further 1% available for local bargaining – for public service workers.

The deal followed a lengthy and challenging negotiation between ICTU’s public services committee (PSC) officers and Government representatives which began in November.

Speaking to reporters in Galway for the Fine Gael Ard Fheis, Mr Harris said: “I don’t want to personalise it to any one individual. Obviously, there was a public sector pay agreement and that does see all people right across the public service benefit.

“This is an agreement that’s now been ratified by Congress and others and therefore its an agreement that will now be implemented.

“In relation to the broader issue of sec-gen pay and the likes, I know this is an area that we will be giving consideration to in the context of how sec-gens are appointed.”

The Fine Gael leader and incoming taoiseach added: “I think its something that merits consideration in the future.”