IT HAS BEEN confirmed this morning that Secretary General of the Department of Health, Dr Ambrose McLoughlin, is to step down from his role and move to the Healthy Ireland initiative.
He had been due to retire next year, and will leave his post as soon as a new Secretary General is found.
Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has issued the following statement:
The move was agreed by the Minister and the Secretary General in the context of his decision to retire in June 2015, after 40 years of service.
Varadkar said McLoughlin had “piloted the department through one of the most challenging periods for the health sector.”
For his part, McLoughlin said: “It has been a privilege to serve as Secretary General in the Department of Health and I am very proud to take up this new role.”
He had faced strong criticism in some parts for his role in managing the Health Department in general, and over controversies regarding discretionary medical cards, and HSE overspending, in particular.
Earlier this summer, Public Accounts Committee Chair John McGuinness called on McLoughlin to step down, telling him and HSE director general Tony O’ Brien “on all of the major fronts you have failed.”
Just six months into the job, Fíanna Fáil TD Seán Fleming called on McLoughlin to resign, labelling him a “disgrace as a public official” during a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee.
In June, the Irish Times reported a spat between McLoughlin and O’ Brien, with the two men exchanging terse letters over the issue of salary cuts for HSE staff and consultants.
McLoughlin has occupied the top job in the department since April 2012, when he replaced Michael Scanlan.
Fine Gael TD Jerry Buttimer, who is Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, this evening released a statement thanking McLoughlin for his work in the department.
I would like to put on record my thanks and appreciation of the work done by Dr Ambrose McLoughlin…over the last number of years…
His experience, knowledge and dedication to improving our health service have always been evident.
Additional reporting by Hugh O’ Connell
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