The Taoiseach has told the Dail that he had "no hand, act or part" in the secondment of outgoing Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan in order to take up a role at Trinity College Dublin.
Dr Holohan announced last month that he is stepping down from his position as CMO to take on a new role as Professor of Public Health Strategy and Leadership at TCD.
A TCD spokesperson confirmed this morning that the role will be "funded by the Department of Health ... under the same terms and conditions of his existing contract".
The spokesperson added: "Secondments between organisations are a regular and common feature across the civil and public service to encourage inter-departmental and inter-agency cooperation and the sharing of knowledge and skills in the public interest."
It was created by the college board in the context of recent and ongoing global events, including conflict, climate change, migration and the recent pandemic.
The Department of Health has said that the role of Chief Medical Officer will be filled in the usual way for posts at this level, subject to the appropriate sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
It said it is anticipated there will then be an open competition for a new appointment to the role of CMO, under the auspices of the Public Appointments Service and the Top-Level Appointments Committee (TLAC).
The department added that secondments between organisations are a regular and common feature across the civil and public service, to encourage inter-departmental and inter-agency cooperation and the sharing of knowledge and skills in the public interest.
In a statement, it said it is facilitating the secondment of Dr Tony Holohan to Trinity College Dublin and considers that his experience will be invaluable in developing the future of public health in Ireland through the higher education sector.
Dr Holohan was appointed as Deputy Chief Medical Officer in 2001, before taking over as Chief Medical Officer in December 2008.
He qualified as a doctor from University Hospital Dublin in 1991.
Most recently, he served as the chairperson of the National Public Health Emergency Team, which provided advice to the Government in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking in the Dáil, Micheál Martin said he was "not involved in one way or the other" in the decision by the Department of Health to create the post and second the CMO to it "in terms of public health and pandemic preparedness".
He was responding to Independent TD Mattie McGrath, who claimed that this was "evidence of a cosy cartel", and "a scandalous waste of money" to allow "your friend" Tony Holohan to "dip his toe in academia".
"You're taking the public for right patsies," he said. "Stop this double jobbing".
Earlier Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall said it is "a very odd situation" for Dr Holohan to have been granted an open-ended secondment from the Department of Health.
Speaking at Leinster House, Ms Shortall asked: "If he is leaving his post, how is he being seconded? Does that mean he's retaining that post within the department?"
She said she wanted "more information" about the contract, as the country needs a new Chief Medical Officer.
The office of the Chief Medical Officer has told the Health Committee that Dr Holohan is not available to come before them until after Easter.
The committee had asked for a meeting to discuss the current Covid-19 strategy. The committee has now sought an urgent meeting with the deputy CMO this week.
David Cullinane, Sinn Féin's health spokesperson, said the committee has also written to the department seeking clarity on the circumstances around the secondment post to TCD for Dr Holohan.
Details about the open-ended secondment, to be funded by the Department of Health, were first revealed by RTÉ News at the weekend.
Additional reporting Fergal Bowers
