New health chief on Tuesday

THE Government is expected to appoint the new secretary general of the Department of Health next Tuesday, following the cancellation of today’s Cabinet meeting in Cork.

The successor to Michael Kelly as administrative head of the department will be chosen by Cabinet from a short-list of three candidates. Mr Kelly resigned his position after he was criticised in the Travers’ Report inquiring into nursing home charges.

According to Medicine Weekly magazine, five candidates remain in contention for the key position at Hawkins House, a number that will be reduced to three by the time the Cabinet considers the appointment at its weekly meeting next Tuesday.