The Director General of the HSE Tony O’Brien has confirmed that he will take a leave of absence from his new role on the board of a US pharmaceutical company.
Mr O’Brien who has been embroiled in the centre of the recent CervicalCheck smear test scandal, has informed the Department of Health that he will continue on his current role in order to determine the facts and issues surrounding the high profile case.
The news of Mr O’Brien’s decision will not go down well with many of his critics who have already called for his resignation.
However despite only having 12 weeks left in his current position Mr O’Brien will not take up his new position at Evofem Biosciences until July at the earliest.
Mr O’Brien’s decision was heavily backed by the Department of Health and the Tanaiste Simon Coveney, who said that the resignation of Mr O’Brien would not be helpful as everyone is needed on board in order to determine the facts of the case.
Mr Coveney added that Mr O’Brien’s decision was the appropriate course of action and his presence will be in the best interests of the people.