The director general of the HSE, Tony O'Brien, is stepping down from his position, with effect from close of business on Friday, May 11.

His decision comes after weeks of controversy over the cervical screening programme, CervicalCheck.

Mr O'Brien said he had made the decision ‘in order to avoid any further impact to the delivery of health and social care services, and in particular the cancer screening services that have become the focus of intense political debate in recent days'.

Mr O'Brien said that he looks forward to engaging with Dr Gabriel Scally, who is heading up the scoping inquiry into the controversy, and will cooperate fully with him.

He added that he is proud to have lead the health services and its many staff in ‘a very challenging environment', and he added that he is ‘deeply committed to health reform in Ireland'.

The Minister for Health, Simon Harris, thanked Mr O'Brien for his ‘many years of dedicated public service'.

He added that the Cabinet will meet again on Friday to ‘discuss this matter and the further measures which can be put in place to care for and support the women and families affected'.