Other than ‘sickening’.

Simon Coveney has become the sixth Cabinet member to breach the Government’s own rules in securing a staggering pay deal for his special adviser.

It has emerged today that the Agriculture Minister fought to award an extraordinary €110,000 salary to qualified dental surgeon Ross Mac Mathuna.

Six senior ministers [Howlin, Burton, Bruton, Varadkar, Rabbitte, and Coveney] have now broken the rules and awarded salaries above the €92,600 Government-imposed limit.