Professor Mary Horgan has been appointed as interim Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at the Department of Health.
She replaces Professor Breda Smyth who stepped down from the role of CMO in February after 18 months in the position.
Professor Horgan is Professor of Infectious Diseases at University College Dublin and the Mater Misericordiae Hospital.
She also served on the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Late last year she was appointed to establish a new emerging health threats agency.
Her appointment was approved by the Cabinet today.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said: "Throughout her career, and more recently in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and her work on NPHET, Professor Mary Horgan has demonstrated the experience, expertise and strong and effective leadership skills that are required for the role of CMO."
Following her appointment, Professor Horgan said: ""I am honoured to be taking up the role of Chief Medical Officer. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Department of Health and to bringing my national and international experience in healthcare to support the Department's mission to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in Ireland."
