Dr Tony Holohan should not have become involved in moving himself from the role of Chief Medical Officer to a research post in Trinity College, a report has concluded.
The review commissioned by the Minister for Health found the process should have been far more hands-off in its approach.
Dr Holohan, in his role as Chief Medical Officer, had some involvement in the establishment of the new position but eventually he decided against taking it up.
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Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said there “were very clear lessons to be learned” after the botched handling of the secondment saw it collapse in a storm of controversy.
He added: “The report is clear, for example, that appropriate consultation and communication with relevant ministers should inform such decisions in the future.
“The report confirms that no attempt was made to conceal the nature of the agreement with TCD in relation to the proposed secondment.
“I accept that all of those who became involved in this process did so with the intention of retaining for the public service the expertise of the former CMO, who helped guide the public health response during the pandemic.”
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