The head of the national cancer control programme, Prof Tom Keane, has confirmed he is in “discussions” in relation to a possible future role in the health service.
Minister for Health Mary Harney made it known last month that she would like Prof Keane to be the new chief executive of the Health Service Executive (HSE). That post becomes vacant in August when Prof Brendan Drumm steps down after a five-year term. The closing date for applications for the job was last Friday.
Speaking today on RTÉ's News at One, Prof Keane said he was aware there had been "a lot of speculation" that he "might or might not be in the mix for another job" but he did not confirm whether he had applied for the post.
“I haven’t made any decision about that but I have a very strong interest in what happens here,” he said.
Prof Keane said the HSE was not just relying on an application process to fill the post.
“There is also the head-hunting one. I’ve had some discussions with people and that’s all I can say right now.”
Asked if he had been offered the job, Prof Keane said: “I’m happy to engage in a dialogue.”
“The HSE is a much maligned organisation. There are wonderful people, and I think we all know, that once you get into the system care is actually very good. I think people should take pride in what we have and if it came about that I was in a position to contribute to that, I would still consider it.”
Prof Keane’s two-year term as head of the national cancer control programme is at an end but he indicated last September he would like to remain in the country and continue his work after his contract finished.
The advertisement for the new HSE chief executive placed by headhunting firm Amrop Strategies, noted it is “is the largest organisation in the country with a budget of €15 billion and a staff of 110,000”.
It said candidates would need “experience of operational excellence in delivering significant and complex organisational change and performance improvements”.
The salary for the new chief executive will be €303,000, as recommended by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector.
Prof Drumm was on a basic salary of €371,291 plus bonuses. He recently said he had not negotiated “one penny of the actual remuneration” of his current contract.
It was set for another person who was due to take up the job and did not do so. The package was 75 per cent of his money was to be paid as salary, with 25 per cent based on performance, he said.