Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has said that he is "taking time out" from his work commitments to be with his family as his wife Emer, who has cancer, has been admitted to palliative care.
He said he wanted to give his "energy, attention and all of my time" to her and their children. Dr Ronan Glynn has been appointed acting chief medical officer.
Dr Holohan made a personal statement at the end of this evening's media briefing at the Department of Health. He said: "From today I'll be taking time out from all of my work commitments to be with my family.
My wife Emer was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, in 2012. She's had a number of difficult years with her disease and was admitted for palliative care last