Embargo hindering permanent appointments to genomics office

The recruitment of permanent posts to the national genetics and genomics office has been impacted by the HSE recruitment embargo, the Medical Independent (MI) has been informed.

However, further interim appointments to the office have been made.

In May 2023, MI reported that interim appointments were planned for the new national office to “accelerate” its establishment. At the time, the HSE said that interim appointments were being made to senior positions while the paperwork to progress the permanent posts would commence “in the background”.

Last month, a HSE spokesperson confirmed that a number of interim appointments were made in mid-2023. In addition to the earlier appointment of Dr Mark Bale as Interim Director, Dr Emma McCann was appointed as Interim National Clinical Director; Dr Richard Hagan was appointed as Interim National Clinical Laboratory Director; and Dr Eppie Jones was appointed as Interim National Bioinformatics Director.

There have also been appointments to the roles of programme manager, research analyst, communications officer, and business coordinator.

Recruitment for the office’s permanent posts “will progress when it is possible to do so, given the current freeze in recruitment across the HSE”, according to the spokesperson.