HIQA suggests salary rise for CEO due to expanded remit

Consideration should be given to increasing the salary of HIQA’s CEO due to the expanding role of the organisation and to make the post more attractive, according to the Authority’s board minutes.

The contract of the current CEO, Mr Phelim Quinn, comes to an end in November and HIQA is seeking a contract extension.

At its board meeting in January, the recommendation by HIQA’s resource oversight committee (ROC) to extend Mr Quinn’s contract “in light of the CEO’s strong performance” was discussed.

The ROC recommended that the board write to the Minister for Health Simon Harris seeking a new contract for the CEO from 25 November 2019 to 31 December 2021, which was accepted by the board.

“It was noted that with HIQA’s expanding remit, an increase in remuneration should be considered,” according to the minutes. “It was also noted that the salary will be an important factor in attracting suitably qualified candidates when the current CEO’s tenure ends.”

The CEO’s current salary is €153,528, which is “Assistant Secretary” level.

The Chairperson, Mr Pat O’Mahony, agreed to raise the issue with the “appropriate parties”.

“The Chairperson also advised the board that succession planning is being considered in the context of other senior management positions.”

At a meeting on 9 May 2018, the HIQA board had a discussion on succession planning, which had been one of the areas emphasised for board attention at a recent governance training session. The position of board Chairperson had remained vacant for some months last year, before the appointment of Mr O’Mahony.

A spokesperson for HIQA told the Medical Independent that approval has not yet been received for the extension of Mr Quinn’s contract, or for an increase in the CEO’s remuneration.