Tag Archives: Tony Holohan

Outgoing Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan and Robert Watt, Secretary General at the Department of Health

This morning.

Afternoon.

Robert Watt, secretary general at the department of health, has been facing questions about the appointment of Tony Holohan to a tax-payer funded role at Trinity Collge Dublin.

Via RTÉ News:

At the time the letter [to Trinity provost from Mr Watt requesting the vacancy for Dr Holohan] was written, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly did not know about this commitment.

At the Committee, Sinn Féin Health spokesperson David Cullinane said this was a display of breathtaking arrogance from Mr Watt, who he said had no such authority to make such a pledge.

He told Mr Watt that he had lost the run of himself.

Mr Watt strongly rejected “this characterisation”.

He insisted the secondment of Dr Holohan was “to give effect to the clear intention” of the Government and it did not sanction the spending of public money.

This would have to be done later by Mr Donnelly during the estimates process, he said.

However, Fine Gael Senator Colm Burke said the letter to Trinity College was effectively a contract and he suggested the Attorney General would likely agree with him on this point.

Watt defends handling of proposed Holohan secondment (RTE)

From top: Linda Doyle, Provost of Trinity College Dublin; Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, and Robert Watt, Secretary General at the Department of Health

This morning/afternoon.

Via Independent.ie:

“Under the proposed agreement, the Department of Health commits to provide for the secondment of Dr Tony Holohan who will continue to receive a salary at his existing level (i.e. salary, terms and conditions equivalent to the position of Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health) on the date of signing of the agreement including any improvements, awards or regrading that may apply to the position of Chief Medical Officer over the duration of the secondment.

“It would make an annual ring-fenced allocation of €2m for the duration of the secondment, to be administered through the Health Research Board, a body under the aegis of the Department of Health, to support the development and activities of an interinstitutional collaboration led by Dr Holohan from his position in Trinity College Dublin.”

A letter from Secretary General Robert Watt to Trinity College Provost Linda Doyle two weeks before Tony Holohan’s TCD role was announced.

Um.

The Health Research Board, meanwhile, said it had no knowledge of such arrangement to pay Dr Holohan.

Anyone?

Robert Watt’s ‘strictly confidential’ letter to Trinity agreed Department of Health would give €2m a year for Holohan secondment (Independent.ie)

RollingNews

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer

Um.

Last night.

Anyone?

Meanwhile…

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine (IAEM) called on Dr Tony Holohan to reintroduce certain public health measures, such as the wearing of masks and working from home, until the current wave of COVID-19 subsides.

In a letter, the CMO was told that the circumstances facing frontline workers are ‘incredibly dangerous and inhumane for many’.

Both organisations called on the CMO to issue ‘clear advice’ to the Government. The letter said: ‘Wearing masks and working from home will assist. We accept that, of themselves, these measures will not end the spread, but they will lessen the burden of infection, reduce cross-infection and may help ameliorate the intolerable pressure on our hospitals. Mandating these measures is now, in our shared view, a matter of urgency.’

Health staff’s ‘urgent’ appeal to Holohan for COVID restrictions (Extra.ie)

RollingNews

Leo Varadkar (left) and Tony Holohan at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020

This morning.

The Chief Medical Officer and public health advisers do not see the need for new restrictions to deal with the ‘surge in Covid cases’, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told a party meeting last night.

Via RTÉ News:

Addressing a meeting of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party, Leo Varadkar said Omicron is less severe and the population is highly vaccinated.

Leo Varadkar said Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown was very busy on his visit there today but the situation was similar to a bad flu season.

He said that economic and social restrictions are not imposed during a bad flu season.

Mr Varadkar encouraged everyone to get their booster vaccine, to wear masks, prioritise ventilation and to focus on outdoor activity.

The Government also wants to see advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) on a fourth vaccine dose

CMO does not see need for new restrictions – Tánaiste (RTE)

RollingNews

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer

Good grief.

Anyone?

Dr Tony Holohan: Covid cases could reach up to 400,000 in December unless there are behavioural changes (Independent.ie)

RollingNews

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer

This morning/afternoon.

The National Public Health Emergency Team has recommended extending the use of Covid certificates to other areas outside of hospitality.

Via RTÉ News:

It is understood that NPHET does not specify where the certificates could be used, and any extension could require new legislation.

It is also understood that NPHET does not recommend the reimposition of social and economic restrictions for now, but warned that such a move cannot be ruled out in the future.

The recommendation was contained in a letter sent by NPHET to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly yesterday.

In it, NPHET also strongly advised the Government that people work from home, where possible, and that employers be supportive of the move.

NPHET recommends use of Covid certs beyond hospitality (RTE)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Last night.

Bathgate, England, UK.

In fairness.

Thanks SOQ

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, at the Coronavirus Press Briefing this afternoon

This afternoon.

The Department of Health, Dublin 2.

Via RTE News:

Prof Philip Nolan said NPHET is now asking people to cut down on social contacts.

“If you are planning to see 15-20 people next week it would be much better to see eight, nine, 10,” he said.

“Reducing the social contacts by 30 to 40% or equally seeing how much more careful you can be in each of those social contacts,” he added.

Dr Tony Holohan said cutting social contacts and being more careful has worked before.

He said it not as if people have abandoned all precautions and if there was no suppression the R number would be 6 to 8 but people have taken measures to bring it to 1.4.

He said people should think about rationing “the kind of discretionary activities you might undertake“.

Dr Holohan advised against in participating in high-risk social activities with vulnerable people.

Socialising at greatest level since pandemic began – NPHET (RTÉ)

Update:

Will do, Stephen.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health

This evening.

Meanwhile..

Temple Bar, Dublin this afternoon

This evening.

Anyone?

RollingNews

This morning/afternoon.

Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications Networks.

Citing various studies, Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said the use of rapid antigen testing, as a means to give people the “green light” to engage in certain activities, could pose several risks.

Meanwhile…

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

The Dail at the Convention centre.

Fight!

Holohan warns antigen tests ‘not a green light’ (RTÉ)