Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 4 May 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Proposed Appointment of Chief Medical Officer to a Role at a Higher Education Institution: Discussion

Mr. Robert Watt:

I do not know, Deputy. It is important in any situation that we all try to learn from things. We were motivated by the public interest here. The proposal is not taking place and that is a disappointment. We need to reflect upon that and to learn lessons from it. As the Deputy says, there is a review to look at it. We need to think about that. On socialising proposals, we had reflected upon this and we thought we were doing the right thing here. We did not anticipate that it would lead to this response. That is a judgment issue for me, the Secretary to the Government and Dr. Holohan. We just did not think that it would lead to such a response. We have to reflect upon that. We have to think about how in the future we manage these things, how we socialise them, how we get different stakeholders on board and how we communicate. There is lots to do in relation to that. I am happy that what we are trying to achieve, the policy intent and the innovative approach in terms of Dr. Holohan going to a university, a third level institution, and having that collaboration and for the State to enhance the funding, is very positive. That is the way it should be. That is very consistent with what the Government wants. We need to learn lessons from why it did not pan out the way we would have wanted.

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