Lennon appointed Cowen’s adviser

THE civil servant at the centre of claims that the Government tried to cover up the extent of a cancer misdiagnosis scare has been appointed to a new position as special adviser to Tánaiste Brian Cowen.

Joe Lennon, head of communications at the Health Service Executive (HSE) when concerns emerged over the work of Finnish pathologist Antoine Geagea at Cork University Hospital last year, takes up his post in April.

The switch is seen as a strategic move to bolster Mr Cowen’s backroom team as speculation continues over the timing of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s departure from office.