Martin confirms appointment of health chief

The name man who is to run the health service under the Government's health service reform programme was formally announced this morning.

Prof Aidan Halligan, who is currently deputy chief medical officer in the UK, will become the Chief Executive of the newly-established Health Service Executive (HSE).

The HSE will take over the day-to-day running of the health service from the Department of Health, leaving the Department to concentrate on policy matters. Officials from the Department of Health have been in negotiation with Prof Halligan for a number of weeks.

He will be the highest paid official in the health service, with an estimated salary of €250,000 per annum. He will be responsible for the health service's 96,000 staff and its €10 billion annual budget.

Prof Halligan graduated from Trinity College, Dublin in 1984 and is from Templeogue, Dublin.

The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said Professor Halligan was "a person of the highest calibre and is very well qualified to lead the important work of HSE.

The Chairman of the Interim Health Service Executive, Mr Kevin Kelly, said: "We are delighted that Aidan Halligan will be joining the HSE.

This is an exceptionally important appointment, and the board of the HSE is very pleased to have found someone of his calibre, from among a first class field of candidates."