Chief Medical Officer, Tony Holohan, has announced this afternoon that he will not be taking up a role with Trinity College Dublin.
His secondment as Professor of Public Health Leadership and Strategy at TCD has been mired in controversy recently, after it emerged that the Department of Health would still be paying his €187,000 salary.
On Wednesday, the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, described Holohan's potential new role as a "really positive move" which he fully supported.
He was due to take up the position on the 1st of July this year, after retiring as Chief Medical Officer.
Dr Tony Holohan has released a statement this afternoon, which reads:
I have decided not to proceed with my secondment as Professor of Public Health Leadership and Strategy, Trinity College Dublin. I intend to retire as CMO with effect from 1 July to allow the Department of Health sufficient time to advance the process of appointing my successor.
I do not wish to see the controversy of the last few days continuing. In particular, I wish to avoid any further unnecessary distraction that this has caused to our senior politicians and civil servants.
My strong belief is that this was a significant opportunity to work with the university sector to develop much needed public health capacity and leadership for the future. In this regard, I would like to thank Trinity College and the Provost for their foresight and support in establishing this role.
Following my departure, I look forward to sharing my knowledge and expertise outside of the public service.
