The chief executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Dr Patrick Wall, says he is looking at a number of career options following confirmation that he is stepping down from the job he has held for the past five years.
He confirmed yesterday that he would be remaining as Ireland's representative on the European Food Safety Agency to which he was appointed late last year.
Dublin-born Dr Wall, who was the first chief executive of the FSAI which was set up following a series of food scares in the 1990s, will remain in the post for three months to assist a smooth transition to a successor.
The chairman of the authority, Dr Daniel O'Hare, praised the tireless commitment, integrity, enthusiasm and energy of Dr Wall during the past five years.
He confirmed that, although the board of the FSAI had offered to renew Dr Wall's five-year contract, after much thought and deliberation he had decided to step down to pursue other interests.
"There is no doubt that Irish food safety standards are higher and awareness of food safety issues are more prominent due to the dedication of Dr Wall during his term of office," Dr O'Hare said.
"His vision, experience and application will be a great loss to the authority.
"We are very sorry to see him leave and sincerely thank him for his tremendous achievements in the Irish food safety arena to ensure that consumers can have confidence in the safety of the food they purchase."
Dr Wall took up the position shortly after the Food Safety Authority of Ireland was established.
He became a national commentator on food safety issues and worked with all elements of the food industry to assist in raising standards of food safety and hygiene.
Dr Wall qualified as both a veterinary surgeon and a medical doctor.
Before joining the FSAI he held the position of consultant in charge at the Gastro-intestinal Diseases Section at the British National Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre.
He had previously worked in Ireland, Britain and Tanzania. He has an extensive range of experience in public health, veterinary public health, food safety control and foot-borne diseases.
The Fine Gael spokesman on agriculture, Mr Billy Timmins, said he was sorry to see Dr Wall go.
He had put food safety on a firm footing during his tenure and would be a hard act to follow, Mr Timmins said.
The Labour Party's food safety spokeswoman, Dr Mary Upton, said Dr Wall's departure from the post would be a great loss.
He had implemented food-safety regulations by bringing people along rather than coercing them and had managed to do this while upholding the law.
The president of the Irish Farmers' Association, Mr John Dillon, praised Dr Wall's role in using his scientifically-based knowledge to reassure consumers on the safety of food.
He praised his practical commonsense approach as head of the FSAI.