When asked about a controversial pay raise for the Department of Health's top civil servant, the Taoiseach told an Oireachtas committee today that there is "merit" in that post being "higher than other secretary general positions".
Secretary General of the Department of Health Robert Watt got a €81,000 pay increase last April, bringing his salary to €294,920.
"How can we say to people looking for wage increases due to the cost of living hikes, that pay raises are 'only for these guys?'", Aontú leader Peader Tóibín asked.
Mr Martin said his experience as Minister for Health informed his view, adding that the department is "so enormous" and "relentless".
"Wage increases are for the entire society," he added.
Deputy Tóibín said that there were no international benchmarks used in Mr Watt's pay hike.
The Taoiseach was answering questions after updating the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform on the revised estimates for his department.
He also confirmed that the Civil Service Accountability Board has not met in over five years.
Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell said that the last meeting she was able to obtain the minutes for was from 2016.
Mr Martin confirmed that was the last time the body had met.
It was chaired by the then-taoiseach Enda Kenny, and met only once.
The Taoiseach also told the committee that it is his view that, "relative to other countries we did well" responding to Covid-19.
He told Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan that Ireland was one of the top EU countries in terms of mortality and vaccination.
Mr Martin also said that "an evaluation" of Ireland's response is needed, but emphasised that it would not be "an investigation".
He also warned that cyber attacks are "a major, major threat to us", noting the "enormous impact on the health service" of an attack last year.
It was "the last straw" for a service exhausted by Covid, he said.
