Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Libya's interim cabinet swears its oath of office last month. Abdel Magid al-Fergany/AP

Libya's Irish health minister defends hiring sister as assistant

Fatima Hamroush – who was based in Ireland before being appointed to the Libyan cabinet – says her sister is fully qualified.

LIBYA’S NEW minister for health – an Irish citizen was based in Drogheda until her appointment – has defended employing her sister as an administrative assistant.

Fatima Hamroush, a native Libyan who moved to Ireland in 1996, left her position at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda to take up appointment as Minister for Health in the transitional government two weeks ago.

Hamroush has come under fire, however, after it emerged that she had appointed her sister Ibtissam as an assistant.

In a statement published on her son’s blog, however, Dr Hamroush spoke of her sister’s credentials – and dismissed suggestions that she was appointed on the basis of nepotism.

She said:

My sister is a legal consultant in Libyan courts and has worked in human rights for some time. She is a senior employee in MOH [a hospital] in Benghazi and I trust her loyalty to me and to the country.

She added that her job required assistance from people who knew the Libyan health system, and also someone who “will not tell me she is tired from working 12 hours a day”.

The choice behind all appointments was based on their efficiency and experience and the full knowledge that they are partiotic and different from Gaddafi regime employees.

Hamroush is one of two Irish-based appointees to the Libyan interim cabinet – Dr Fathi al-Akkari, previously of the Institute of Technology Tallaght, is the country’s deputy education minister.

ICC wants Hague judges involved in trial of Gaddafi’s son >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
17 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Condon
    Favourite John Condon
    Report
    Jan 24th 2024, 9:48 PM

    Nice one. Loved him in Riverdance.

    177
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Finch
    Favourite Chris Finch
    Report
    Jan 24th 2024, 9:58 PM

    @John Condon: . I was addicted to doing the hokey pokey, but thankfully I turned myself around.

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ken Mc Carthy
    Favourite Ken Mc Carthy
    Report
    Jan 24th 2024, 11:08 PM

    @John Condon: “Lord of the dance” for me

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scruff The Magic Wagon
    Favourite Scruff The Magic Wagon
    Report
    Jan 24th 2024, 10:41 PM

    Can anyone confirm if Judge Martin Nolan is a permanent inhabitant of this planet??

    116
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Blue Moon
    Favourite Blue Moon
    Report
    Jan 24th 2024, 10:47 PM

    @Scruff The Magic Wagon: He’s only here for a short time because of his suspended visa to the planet of Mars…

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P. V. Aglue
    Favourite P. V. Aglue
    Report
    Jan 24th 2024, 11:08 PM

    @Scruff The Magic Wagon: pensioner’s life’s don’t matter. A 22yrold against a 75yrold.

    72
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ken Mc Carthy
    Favourite Ken Mc Carthy
    Report
    Jan 25th 2024, 12:39 AM

    @Scruff The Magic Wagon: can’t be surely…. its like he has an aversion / blind spot when it comes to punishment/ sentencing

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute William Slevin
    Favourite William Slevin
    Report
    Jan 24th 2024, 10:18 PM

    I hope he goes after the mass murdering zionist state Israel for killing nearly 20,000 children ripping them apart with bullets…blowing them apart with bombs…leaving ICU baby’s to die and rot to be fed upon by wild animals…

    142
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute D W Chaney
    Favourite D W Chaney
    Report
    Jan 24th 2024, 10:48 PM

    @William Slevin: While Hamas of course are left to the calling of their Islamic faith in slaughtering, torturing, raping and hostage taking??

    127
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute D W Chaney
    Favourite D W Chaney
    Report
    Jan 24th 2024, 11:17 PM

    @William Slevin: The ‘palestinians’ have abundantly shown their support for their terrorist government. Cheering the atrocities, taunting and spitting on the Israeli hostages, and encouraging their children to do the same. Not one ‘palestinian’ has voiced any horror at the actions of their government, not one has condemned them, or voiced any concern for the hostages. They still expect Israel to carry on providing them with food, water, electricity, medicines etc though.

    57
    See 6 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rex Tynan
    Favourite Rex Tynan
    Report
    Jan 24th 2024, 11:42 PM

    @William Slevin: they reap what they sow, Hamas have made their bed, let them p!ss in it

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Radical Centrist
    Favourite Radical Centrist
    Report
    Jan 24th 2024, 11:58 PM

    @William Slevin: In fairness, you could be confused for a racist anti-semetic bigot.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute D W Chaney
    Favourite D W Chaney
    Report
    Jan 25th 2024, 12:00 AM

    @William Slevin: What amazes me about the pro-Palestinian lobby is that it never acknowledges the death and related atrocities committed by Muslims against other Muslims. Examples include the recent devastating war in Yemen coordinated by Saudi Arabia and Iran. Thousands of Yemenis have starved to death, since the Saudis blockaded the ports so that no food could be delivered to the main city.
    What about the atrocities committed by the Assad regime against fellow Muslims in Syria? Putin has aided and abetted that regime, yet had the audacity to criticise Israel for committing war crimes.
    Pakistan has recently evicted and expelled tens of thousands Afghanis from that country. The Afghani Taliban has committed atrocities against its own people – fellow Muslims.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute D W Chaney
    Favourite D W Chaney
    Report
    Jan 25th 2024, 8:59 AM

    @William Slevin: If the Palestinians laid down their arms there would be peace tomorrow. If Israel laid down their arms there would be an Oct 7 every day until there were no more Jews left. Israel are a democratic nation surrounded by malignant terrorist states, they are fighting for their existence as is their right.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute D W Chaney
    Favourite D W Chaney
    Report
    Jan 25th 2024, 1:42 PM

    @William Slevin: Maybe if hamas spent the billions received in aid for infrastructure, farming, industry, schools and hospitals instead of tunnels, guns, rockets and lining leaders pockets there could be peace. It is possible. Ask the 2 million muslims living in israel

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Éamonn OKane
    Favourite Éamonn OKane
    Report
    Jan 25th 2024, 4:46 PM

    @D W Chaney: not providing but not preventing access to supplies

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Phil O' Meara
    Favourite Phil O' Meara
    Report
    Jan 24th 2024, 9:55 PM

    Beaker.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aonghus O Flaherty
    Favourite Aonghus O Flaherty
    Report
    Jan 25th 2024, 12:55 AM

    Brilliant!..congrats!

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerry Kelly
    Favourite Gerry Kelly
    Report
    Jan 25th 2024, 3:10 PM

    A fine achievement
    I wish him well
    We can afford ourselves a little flutter of pride at how many Irish people land themselves top European & global positions

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds