Medicines board: The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) has renamed its Dublin premises Kevin O'Malley House in honour of Prof O'Malley's lifetime commitment and dedication to the field of medicines regulation in Ireland.
Prof O'Malley has served as a board member of the Irish Medicines Board and its predecessor, the National Drugs Advisory Board, for 27 years. The Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney performed the official dedication ceremony at the IMB's offices on Earlsfort Terrace.
Prof O'Malley served the National Drugs Advisory Board (NDAB) as a member of the committee and board from 1977 to 1995. He was chairman of the NDAB from 1985 to 1995. He served as a board member and chairman of the Advisory Committee for Human Medicines of the IMB from 1996 to his retirement in 2004.
Pat O'Mahony, chairman of the Irish Medicines Board, paid tribute to Prof O'Malley for his long and dedicated service to the Irish medical arena and the contribution he made to progress in the medicines regulatory environment for the benefit of public health.
"Prof O'Malley has shown extraordinary commitment to the NDAB and IMB during his career. He provided expert advice not only in his specialised area of medicines but also in respect of other policy and business matters.
"His contributions were extremely valuable to the collective thinking of the board. He played a key role in progressing and expanding the organisation since its foundation to its position today as a key national driving force in protecting public health through continuous, effective and efficient control of medicines and medical devices," said Mr O'Mahony.