The manner in which the post of chief executive at the Irish Blood Transfusion Service is filled has been criticised by the blood bank's medical director.
The job was advertised in national newspapers a month ago, but Dr William Murphy said he believed this was not the way to get the best person.
"I've been here for six years and I've had five people in the CEO post. I do think we need stability at that level, and we should do our utmost to identify people who can do that job and go out and get them," he told The Irish Times.
"I don't think you get those people by putting an ad in a newspaper. If there's a competent person out there who we should have in this job, they are already working and they probably aren't thinking of moving.
"We should go out and head-hunt people like that. That is how the private sector would do it, and I think that's what we should do. I'm surprised that in the Irish public service we still go for these by open competition."
The post of chief executive has been vacant since Mr Martin Hynes stepped down last October. He was suspended by the IBTS board in June after he ordered the Munster regional director, Dr Joan Power, to take administrative leave. The board overturned his decision and suspended him, following which he instituted High Court proceedings.
Mr Hynes secured an interim High Court order revoking his suspension and restraining the board from appointing any other person to his position pending a full hearing. Prior to that hearing, however, the court heard that the dispute between him and the blood bank had been settled to the satisfaction of both parties.
Under the agreement reached, Mr Hynes stepped down in October and received what was termed a "suitable payment".