The new Secretary General of the Department of Health is to be Dr Ambrose McLoughlin.
Mr McLoughlin is currently the registrar and CEO of the pharmacy regulator, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.
He replaces Michael Scanlan, who retired recently after seven years in the post.
A dental practitioner by profession, Dr McLoughlin also worked as CEO of the North Eastern Health Board and other health board posts.
The appointment was approved today by the Government after a vetting process by the Top Level Appointments Committee.
