Tánaiste Micheál Martin has backed Department of Health Secretary General Robert Watt to continue in his role following his controversial Oireachtas Committee appearance.
Mr Watt appeared in front of the Committee on Wednesday to discuss a report into former Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan’s secondment to Trinity College.
The Secretary General said that he rejected "most" of the findings in Maura Quinn’s report into the issue.
READ MORE: Robert Watt says Stephen Donnelly was not told of Holohan secondment funding because of 'hack'
He was later criticised by Committee Chair John McGuinness over his performance, saying that it fell "well short" of what was expected of a senior civil servant.
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns addressed the issue with the Tanaiste in the Dáil on Thursday, asking if he believed that Mr Watt’s behaviour was "appropriate".
She noted that Mr Watt initially refused to address the Committee, but later appeared voluntarily when it got powers to force him to appear.
Ms Cairns said: "We had an extraordinary spectacle at the Finance Committee. One of the most senior and highest-paid civil servants in the State engaged in an arrogant two-hour dismissal of an independent expert report commissioned by his line Minister [Stephen Donnelly].
"It's not enough to say you [in Government] accept the report but Mr Watt, a central character, is lively intimating that he thinks it is a load of rubbish.
"Is it appropriate for Mr Watt to reject the findings of this report? How can Mr Watt’s position be tenable? Do you or the Government intend to take any action to make Mr Watt accountable?"
The Tánaiste used his first three-minute slot to speak about the findings of the report but did not answer Deputy Cairns’ questions.
When asked again if he thought Mr Watt’s behaviour, his initial decision to refuse to address the committee and his decision to reject the report was acceptable, Mr Martin underlined the importance of having a good Secretary General in the Department of Health.
The Tánaiste said: "When I came into office as Taoiseach, for the first six months we didn’t have a permanent Secretary General in the Department of Health.
"Stability has been brought to the Department of Health. The Secretary General has, in terms of the administration of the Department of Health, been effective on a whole range of fronts.
"That has to be acknowledged. That was required.
"That's my main thing. That's why I believe it's important that the Secretary General continues as Secretary General of the Department.
"In terms of accountability, it is my understanding that the Secretary General did appear in front of other committees.
"Of course, the Secretary General should be accountable to the relevant Oireachtas committees."
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