Health Minister defends €160,000 salary for SDU executive
Minister for Health Dr James Reilly has today defended the awarding of a €160,000-a-year salary to an executive at the Special Delivery Unit.
Lis Nixon has been hired on a short-term basis to deal with hospital waiting lists.
She will be paid €41,000 per quarter, or €164,000 year, and will report to chief operating officer Tony O’Brien.
Minister Reilly said that Ms Nixon is not an advisor to him personally, and has a proven track record.
His spokesperson has confirmed that more, similar appointments will be made in the future to deal with outpatients waiting lists.
Minister Reilly said that people will not care how much these executives are paid once the problem is fixed.
"We've gone out and got one of the best people in the world who has experience working both in the UK and in Canada," he said.
"And you think we're going to pay less than the going rate? I don't think we'll get away with that.
"And rather than adding to the long-term workforce at the Department of Health, we're bringing them in on contract. When the job is done, they move on."
