The former CEO of the Health Service Executive has been appointed as the independent chairperson of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use.
Paul Reid said he was "delighted" to have been appointed to the position.
"The problems associated with drugs use in Ireland affect us all, directly or indirectly," he said.
"Previous Assemblies have shown that members of the general public have an important contribution to make to tackling complex societal problems, and I expect that the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use will be no different," Mr Reid added.
The announcement was made by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
"Paul has vast leadership experience and a successful track record as CEO of the Health Services Executive and Fingal County Council. I am confident he will be an excellent choice as Chairperson of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use," Mr Varadkar said.
The Assembly was established following resolutions in Dáil and Seanad Éireann in late February.
The Terms of Reference call on the Citizens' Assembly to examine and make recommendations on the legislative, policy and operational changes the State could make to significantly reduce the harmful impacts of illicit drugs on individuals, families, communities and wider society.
Mr Reid will be joined by 99 members of the general public for the Assembly.
A campaign to randomly select the members of the public to join the Citizens' Assembly will begin this week.
Over the coming week, 20,000 households around Ireland will receive letters from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar inviting someone from the household to apply to join the Citizens' Assembly.
The first meeting is scheduled for 14 April and it is expected to complete its report by the end of the year.
Mr Reid has held CEO and senior executive roles in the private, semi-state, central government, local government, health and not-for-profit sectors.
He was CEO of the HSE through the Covid-19 pandemic and the cyberattack.
The Government said he was responsible for 150,000 staff and a €22bn budget.
It said he "headed a significant reform strategy for the HSE, and took lead roles in communicating public health advice and in implementing the vaccination programme, which achieved an unparalleled 98% uptake."
The Government said while he was CEO of Fingal County Council from 2014 – 2019, it became the "leading local authority in terms of social and private housing development".
