The Government has appointed Dr Ambrose McLoughlin as the new Secretary General in the Department of Health.
Applications for the position were reviewed and vetted by the Top Level Appointments Committee and Dr McLoughlin was chosen from the top three candidates. He will replace Mr Michael Scanlan who held the position of Secretary General for the past seven years before retiring earlier this month.
Prior to his appointment Dr McLoughlin was registrar and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, the pharmacy regulator. He has also worked on various health boards and has over 30 years experience in the Health Service ranging from Practitioner Level to Chief Executive.
Minister for Health Dr James Reilly TD welcomed the appointment of Dr McLoughlin saying it would have ‘an invigorating effect on the Department of Health’. He also took the opportunity to pay tribute to Mr Michael Scanlan whose work as Secretary General he described as ‘exemplary’.