‘Rank outsider’ nets top job at HSE

THE HSE has appointed a rank outsider to replace Prof Brendan Drumm as head of the health service — and has given him a salary almost €100,000 higher than planned.

In a shock move, the HSE has confirmed that Cathal Magee will lead Ireland’s health service reform over a five-year tenure from mid-autumn. The former chief executive of Eircom, who is currently a non-executive shareholder with stricken insurance firm VHI and EBS building society, has not worked in the health service for over two decades.

However, over the next five years he will receive an annual no-bonus salary of €322,000 — the equivalent of €1.6 million between now and 2015 and almost €100,000 more than the €228,466 outlined by Health Minister Mary Harney and the HSE board.