Retired medical director Dr Tony Holohan, who has been at the center of controversy over a planned academic position at Trinity College Dublin, has been in talks about a position as a professor at University College Dublin (UCD) since early spring, as has emerged.
In an unexpected announcement, UCD said yesterday that Dr. Holohan, who retired from the Ministry of Health last Friday, has been named an adjunct professor of public health and agricultural sciences at the university.
The position, which he is expected to hold for up to five years, is without salary, which is normal for an adjunct professor.
A spokeswoman for UCD said yesterday that “Prof Holohan has had a longstanding relationship for many years and is a highly regarded alumnus of the university. The dialogue about his appointment as visiting or deputy has been going on since early spring and concluded this week.”
The appointment is seen as a significant victory for UCD, given the standing of Dr. Holohan.
It follows controversy over his proposed appointment earlier this year to an academic position as a professor of public health strategy at Trinity, which became embroiled in controversy after it was revealed that he would remain an employee of the Department of Health and receive his salary of €187,000 – which Health Minister Stephen Donnelly was unaware at the time.
It was revealed that Robert Watt, Secretary General of the Department of Health, wrote to Trinity in March, promising €2 million a year in funding to support the post.
When Taoiseach Micheál Martin ordered a pause in early April to request a report on the trial, Dr. Holohan indicated that he would not take up the Trinity post and would be retiring in July.
dr. Holohan posted on Twitter yesterday that he was “elated” with his UCD appointment on a pro bono basis. He added: “Have great plans to add value to the role and do other interesting things.”
dr. Holohan is expected to be open to other offers outside of academia and has set up a professional email account.
The Oireachtas Health Commission was previously told that Dr Holohan had indicated that he wanted to leave his position in August 2021, but due to Covid-19, he did not start talking to the universities until around February. UCD said the adjunct professor position is for high achievers “who have been recognized by peers as outstanding in their fields”.