The salary which has been agreed for the newly appointed chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive, HSE, was approved by my predecessor, Deputy McCreevy.
The CEO of the HSE will have responsibility for leading the HSE through its establishment phase to be an effective and efficient manager of overall service delivery in the health service. This will involve managing the reformed health service to deliver the goals and objectives of the Government reform programme. In light of the particular challenges arising for the first appointee to this post, my predecessor agreed to a special package in order to attract a suitably qualified high calibre candidate.
I do not accept that the salary agreed for the first incumbent of this post will create serious anomalies elsewhere in the public service. The salary was set in the context of the establishment of a new body which will be a bigger and more complex organisation than any of the other non-commercial State sponsored bodies. The CEO will be responsible for a budget of €10 billion approximately and an approved level of staff of about 100,000. The appointment is for a five year fixed term and is non-renewable.
The package has been agreed on an exceptional basis in the light of the uniqueness of the position and the particular circumstances arising for the first appointee. The remuneration of subsequent CEOs of the HSE, like that of all other top public service posts, will be determined by the review body on higher remuneration in the public sector.
