The Minister for Health has today announced the next chairman of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Dr Frank Dolphin will succeed Liam Downey in the position from August 15th. Mr Downey has completed two terms as chairman.
Mary Harney said she was very pleased to announce that Dr Dolphin has agreed to take up the position and wished him well.
“Dr Dolphin has highly relevant, wide-ranging experience in his business career, academic accomplishments and work as a clinical psychologist," she said in a statement.
“He has already demonstrated a personal commitment to the governance of our health services through his chairmanship of the Children’s University Hospital Temple Street Hospital and his membership of the board of governors of the Mater Hospital,” the Minister said.
“I have great confidence in his ability to lead the board of the HSE in its next phase of development, working with the new chief executive, Cathal McGee, and with a growing level of clinical leadership throughout the organisation.”
Paying tribute to the outgoing chairman, Mr Downey, the Minister said: "The value of a unified health service has already been demonstrated in many areas and further benefits for patients will continue to be realised in the coming years.
"Since 2005, Liam Downey has led this change process as chairman of the Executive with tremendous personal commitment to the public good and with great skill, patience and persistence.” Ms Harney said the Government had over the years "continually seen and benefited from his excellent judgement, interpersonal skills and hard work as chairman".
Dr Dolphin has decided to relinquish his chairmanship of the Children’s University Hospital Temple Street, and his membership of the board of governors of the Mater Hospital.
A native of Birr, Co Offaly, Dr Dolphin is also the chairman of Rigney Dolphin, a successful services business he founded in Waterford that employs 1,100. He lives in Waterford with his wife, Adrienne, and their five children.
The new HSE chairman will not be paid a salary, but he does receive an annual fee of €29,888 that is applicable to a non-executive chairperson of the HSE.
