The Director of Corporate Enforcement Paul Appleby, who today announced plans to retire at the end of February, has agreed to stay on for a further six months until a replacement is found.
Mr Appleby's decision to remain in the job was confirmed by a spokesman for the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement this evening.
Earlier today Mr Appleby said his resignation would not impede the “successful conclusion” of his Office's investigation into the former Anglo Irish Bank.
In a statement issued this evening, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton confirmed Mr Appleby's decision to stay.
“Mr Appleby’s welcome decision to remain in position for a further six months will enable a smooth transition to a successor.
"The arrangement which has been reached in co-operation with Minister Howlin reflects the importance that the government accords to the crucial investigation into Anglo, and will facilitate his continued leadership at this time when substantial progress has been recently been made", he said.
Speaking earlier this evening, Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin welcomed Mr Appleby's decision to extend his stay.
"The Government is very anxious and determined to ensure that the inquiries being carried out by his office carry on in a seamless fashion and come to a conclusion," he said.
Mr Howlin told RTÉ that there would be "no disruption whatsoever" to the investigative work being carried out by Mr Appleby's office.
Mr Howlin said he was surprised to hear of Mr Appleby's decision to leave.
"The first that I heard of it was at Cabinet today when Mr Bruton informed us of that and there was a general view in cabinet that we wanted to ensure ... that there would be absolutely a seamless move to a succesor."
In a statement issued this morning, Mr Appleby said he had informed the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton that he will make himself available if his assistance is required after he retires.
“I advised him that there were a number of staff in my Office who were well capable of assuming my position in an acting capacity pending the making of a permanent appointment as director in a few months’ time,” he said.
“While there can be no perfect time to retire from a demanding role like that of director of Corporate Enforcement, I am satisfied that my leaving the post at this time need have no adverse consequences for the valuable work of the Office,” he said.
Almost 8,000 public servants have applied to retire by the end of February in order to qualify for their pension and lumpsum to be based on salary before pay was cut in 2010.
Sinn Féin public expenditure spokeswoman Mary Lou McDonald described the Government's handling of the departure of so many public servant as "a mess".
"On the one hand we have the government actively encouraging the loss of at least 7,700 mostly front line positions from the public sector and then on the other the Minister states he is intends to recruit up to 3,000 new workers.
“Experienced senior nurses, head mistresses and gardaí will leave the service at the end of this month yet the government has no plan in place to deal with the inevitable shortages in services that will result from next month’s exodus.
Fianna Fáil spokesman Seán Fleming called on Minister Howlin to publish the Government’s plan to protect frontline services and fill the staffing gaps to arise from the early retirement scheme.
“Around 3,500 staff leaving are in the health sector. These are acute-care nurses, midwives and home care specialists to name just a few areas that will be significantly affected.
"Almost 300 gardaí and over 200 Defence Forces personnel will leave
under the early retirement scheme. This is an extremely serious issue that the Government has only a few weeks to address," Mr Fleming said.