Tánaiste pushing to establish HSE before Christmas

The Tánaiste has said the decision by Professor Aidan Halligan not to become Chief Executive of the Health Service Executive is a great disappointment.

However, Mary Harney has said it is not a fatal blow to establishing the HSE as planned from January 1.

Legislation has been approved at today's Cabinet meeting and will be published this week.

The Health Minister has said she is taking action to have it ratified before the Christmas recess.

“Some aspects of the legislation are to do with information and quality.”

“I have taken that out of the Bill and will deal with it in a separate Bill in the early part of next year in order to facilitate the early passage of this particular legalisation to facilitate the establishment of the HSE.”