Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress to date on the recruitment of the chief executive of the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20874/05]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 128: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the steps being taken to find a chief executive for the HSE; her views on whether the decision of the second candidate appointed to turn down the post may represent a vote of no confidence in her and in the new health structures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20835/05]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 174: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason it has not been possible to recruit a chief executive for the Health Service Executive; the reason for the refusal of a person (details supplied) to take up the post; the amount the recruitment has cost the taxpayer to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20936/05]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 190: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason it has not been possible to recruit a chief executive for the Health Service Executive; the reason for the refusal of a person (details supplied) to take up the post; the cost of the recruitment to the taxpayer to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20981/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 128, 174 and 190 together.

The Deputy may be aware that I have appointed Professor Brendan Drumm as the first chief executive of the Health Service Executive, following his recommendation by the board of the executive. Professor Drumm will take up duty on 15 August 2005 and, in the meantime, Mr. Kevin Kelly will remain as interim chief executive.

The final transition from the previous health board structure to the single, unified, national health service took place on 15 June 2005 as planned when the executive's national directors took over full operational responsibility from the chief officers of the former health boards. The transition to one single, streamlined structure, under one management, has been completed and we are at the beginning of an important new phase in the health reform programme.

The filling of the position of chief executive required two separate recruitment campaigns and I am advised by the executive that total recruitment costs came to €186,352.92.