:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/KD3EV2KO2X7KEJLNDCRTZVN4FI.jpg)
The secretary general of the Department of Justice, Noel Waters, is to retire from his position , it has been announced
Mr Waters took over as the most senior official in the Department in October 2016, having served in the post in an acting capacity since 2014.
Mr Waters succeeded Brian Purcell, the former secretary general, who left to take up a position in the Health Service Executive following controversy over the retirement of Martin Callinan as garda commissioner in 2014.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said Mr Waters will have completed 40 years’ service in the civil service next February.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/TNG2OBNARXOTEFYBUXU5RBM5XQ.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/GMMIQWXIE4D3RSCALDKTINXEX4.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/FNILZJUWQQEL5HT37DVLBMNEE4.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/HR5ZHP33TOMYKLKN2ZLGWYPZTM.jpg)
It is also insisted that the retirement of Mr Waters is unconnected to any recent controversies in the justice area.
“The Secretary General notified the Minister formally yesterday that, as he will have shortly served for 40 years, he intends to retire in February,” a Department statement said. “This was noted as a matter of routine at today’s Government meeting.”
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/MOENYACS6VA77KV7ZXJ7HWR6UM.png)