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PROFESSOR BREDA SMYTH has been appointed to serve as interim chief medical officer at the Department of Health.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced that Prof Smyth will take up her role from 4 July.
It comes as Dr Tony Holohan prepares to step down from the role on July 1 after 14 years.
A competition to find a permanent replacement for Dr Holohan remains ongoing.
Prof Smyth is currently Professor for Public Health Medicine in NUI Galway and consultant in Public Health in HSE West.
She also contributed significantly to Ireland’s Covid-19 response as a member of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), the Rapid Testing Expert Advisory Group as well as a founding member of the Covid-19 – Irish Epidemiology Modelling Advisory Group (IEMAG).
Donnelly said: “While the open competition for the permanent filling of the crucial role of chief medical officer has commenced, I am conscious of the need to have in place the required leadership at all times to continue to monitor and combat Covid-19 and other public health threats.
“Professor Smyth brings this considerable experience, excellent leadership ability and extensive public health skillset to the role and I very much look forward to working with her. I thank Professor Smyth for agreeing to fill the role on an interim basis until the completion of an open competition for a permanent CMO.”
Prof Smyth said: “I look forward to the opportunity to advance the public health agenda through important, cross-government initiatives like Healthy Ireland and Slaintecare to improve the health and wellbeing of the entire population including marginalised groups and continuing to address inequities in health.”
All this good news must have people worried, sure what are they going to moan about if things are going well?
There you go Paul. Ger found something.
Tingz wear better wen tingz was worser
Hauliers are the back bone of the country. They even deliver the economy.
Brilliant customer service, always with Irish Ferries. They go out of their way to help.
They went out of their way to get rid or their Irish staff.
Greedy Irish Staff.
The way they faced down the unions was an inspiration to us all, they stood up to the bullies and showed the rest if us the way
You must have met the ONE that can speak english
You mean polish ferrys find stena much better
Maybe its all the baled waste heading abroad for incineration. Export all our problems?
Or it could be an increase in emigration.
People shipping their stuff overseas.
Containers on ships is not always good news.
Or maybe they are transporting all the illegal cannabis grown in Co Clare to supply markets on the continent.
Thanks Enda :)
Which way is the freight going? Mainly in or out? Without that information just Journal spin! Not very accurate reporting
Does it matter, it’s keeping a Irish comapny going who have just announved lots of expanction at start of the year. Jobs are being secured in Irish and British ports.
You should really read up on how a successful economy works import export, balance of trade etc.
oh yeah. a truly great irish company. who flag out their ships under the Cypriot flag to limit the need to comply with best practices. who use an agency to employ non EU crew and and pay way below the minimum wage with minimum leave. a true shining light.
John they have the best ferries & service on the Irish sea. You may be correct about how they behave towards their staff but your argument is damaged by your misinformation.
Micheal. would you mind explaining what you .mean by my misinformation?
Your suggestion about using best practices is vague & designed to be that way to call into question the highest standards used by IF. These ferries are the best on the irish sea with the best service on that sea. Nothing comes close for service or comfort. I know i travel on all these ferries serveral times a week.
micheal…..if you travel with IF on a regular basis you might remember when a truck driver died due to a heart attack. he was attended by a nurse who was travelling on the ship. she requested the use of a defibrillator and was told that there was none on the ship. This was confirmed by an Irish Ferries spokesperson on national radio. they said it wasnt required and yet when these ships were manned by Irish and Uk crew there were defibeillators onboard and crew trained in the use of same. This Micheal is one example of what i mean by best practices. So next time you travel enjoy your comfort but for your sake dont have a heart attack!
We agree that Hauliers and Couriers are the backbone of the country (referring to the UK but we sure it’s the same for Ireland). This has been proved during the #opstack crisis caused by the nonsense at Calais recently. We really want to do more business with Irish Ferries as our freight customers always have good feedback about them. Roll on 2016.
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