Deputies in the Irish Dáil (Parliament) are increasingly unhappy with what they say is the arrogant style of Secretary for Health, Robert Watt and want him reined in.
They are demanding that Mr Watt (pictured) be made accountable after he rubbished a report critical of his role in a proposed transfer of former Chief Medical Officer, Tony Holohan into academia — a move which eventually did not take place.
Deputies described Mr Watt as “overbearing”, having a “pricklish side” and “not suffering fools gladly”.
The Dáil’s Finance Committee is set to call Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly to address contradictions created by the head of his Department.
One, Jim O’Callaghan of the Fianna Fáil Party, went on radio to express his concern at Mr Watt’s attitude.
“I don’t think we need to know his personal views. If it’s the decision of the Government, he obviously is bound by that,” Mr O’Callaghan said.
Meanwhile, former Governor of Ireland’s highest-security jail, Ethel Gavin has accused the Irish Prison Service (IPS) of a sexist demotion at the behest of 14 male prison officers under her command who staged a walkout five years ago.
The incidents that preceded the walkout included a senior gangland criminal being allowed to make a phone call before being transferred and strict handling of a prisoner being withdrawn before he went on to seriously assault a prison officer.
Ms Gavin has complained to the Workplace Relations Commission that she was demoted from the acting position as Governor of the campus housing the high-security Portlaoise Prison and the Midlands Prison, losing two grades of seniority to be placed in charge of the Midlands Prison only.
The IPS, which denies her complaints, maintains the Ms Gavin’s acting position as campus governor was only ever temporary and that a string of incidents at Portlaoise early in 2018 demanded that an existing plan to make the role redundant and bring in a new prison governance structure had to be expedited.
A decision on the case is not expected until later in the year.
Dublin, 23 April 2023
