The Irish doctor appointed to the post of chief executive of the Health Service Executive (HSE) has cited family reasons for his decision not to take up the position.
Professor Aidan Halligan
Professor Aidan Halligan, who works as deputy chief medical officer of the UK's Health Department, was due to start the job as the HSE's first CEO on January 31st.
The Chairman of the Interim HSE, Mr Kevin Kelly, has informed the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Ms Harney.
Ms Harney said she regretted Prof Halligan's decision not to take up the post but said she respected his reasons. She stressed that the reform process and new structure would continue and a new candidate for the post would be found as soon as possible.
Prof Halligan said: "Assuming responsibility for the reform of the Irish health system was a great opportunity and challenge for me personally. However, for family reasons, I am unable to proceed with the appointment. I wish the HSE every success in its important task."
Speaking on RTÉ Radio yesterday, Mr Kevin Kelly, chairman of the HSE's interim board, admitted the board is disappointed at the news.
"While this development is naturally somewhat disappointing, the structure we are putting in place for Ireland's single, unified health service is robust and can fully function with an acting CEO until the permanent position is filled.
"The HSE will deliver an improved service to patients, a better working environment for staff and ultimately better use of resources and value for money to the State," he said
Mr Kelly said both he and the professor decided the family issues were "insurmountable" following discussions in London. He agreed the discontentment at the move of the Halligan children, who are in their teens, was "at the heart" of the doctor's decision.
The HSE takes responsibility for the operation of the health system from 1 January 2005, and this will be unaffected.
An acting chief executive will be put in place in the coming weeks, and a new chief executive will be recruited within the next six to nine months.
The €400,000-a-year salary plus expenses, which Prof Halligan had negotiated, is thought to be in excess of any other job in the public service.
Labour's Deputy Leader and Spokesperson on Health, Ms Liz McManus, has called the decision by Prof Halligan not to take up the job as "the lastest indication of the growing shambles in the government's health service reform programme.
"Dr. Halligan's appointment was announced two months ago. The biggest salary ever negotiated for an Irish public servant was agreed for him. We were told originally that Dr. Halligan could not take up his appointment until April and then later that he would start early in the new year," she said.
"Now the whole arrangement has collapsed and the search for a chief executive will, presumably, have to start again from scratch. It would be interesting to hear Dr. Halligan's own views after his brief encounter with the Irish health service," she said.
Ms McManus criticised the lack of political leadership in regard to health service reform.
"The Tánaiste appears to be floundering in her new Department and has hardly made a single significant decision since her appointment as Minister for Health two months ago. The government has to get a grip on the whole reform programme or the chaos in the health service will simply continue indefinitely" she added.