The decision to appoint a serving Secretary General to the Department of Health on an interim basis, pending the holding and conclusion of an open competition for the substantive vacant post, is a matter for Government. In that context, in line with a decision taken by Cabinet on 6th January, Mr Robert Watt was assigned to the role of Secretary General in the Department of Health on an interim basis. I would like to clarify for the Committee that Mr Watt had no input into my sanctioning of the salary of €292,000 to apply for the open competition for the substantive post. The newly sanctioned salary will only apply to the person appointed arising from the open competition currently underway.