Appointment of two members to the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council

Following nominations from the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council recognised education and training institutions, the Minister for Health Mr Stephen Donnelly T.D., has appointed Mr Aidan O’Brien and Mr Dennis Keeley as members of the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council. These appointments are from 24 August 2020 to 23 August 2024.

Mr Dennis Keeley

Chief Fire Officer, Dublin Fire Brigade

Dennis Keeley is Chief Fire Officer with Dublin Fire Brigade. As Chief Fire Officer, Dennis leads a multi-disciplinary team of over 1,000 personnel with responsible for the overall leadership, management and strategic development of the Dublin Fire Brigade and Ambulance Service.

Dennis has over 33 years’ experience with DFB, serving in a broad range of Operational and Management roles before his appointment as Chief Fire Officer. Dennis has extensive experience and knowledge in emergency, crisis and risk management and following his completion of a Master’s Programme in Emergency Management undertook a number of international missions with the United Nations Emergency Disaster and Coordination unit. He has also been a tutor with the European Union Civil Protection Mechanisms training programme and was instrumental in bringing a number of these programs to Ireland. Dennis is also the current Chair of the Emergency Management Institute Ireland.

Mr Keeley has been nominated by Dublin Fire Brigade and the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland.

Aidan O’Brien

Aidan O’Brien has been a member of the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps for over 40 years, during which time he has held roles at local, regional and national level. He has risen to the rank of Commander in the organisation and has been awarded the title of Director Emeritus following his term as National Director of the organisation. While Aidan’s position is a voluntary one, he is employed full time in the civil service and is currently the Principal Officer with responsibility for service delivery in the Civil Justice pillar of the Department of Justice and Equality. He has expertise in software development, project and programme management and management of grant funding using exchequer and European funding.

Aidan holds various qualifications including a Diploma in Front Line Management and a BSc and MSc in IT Management. He is currently on the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) register at the Paramedic level and maintains his qualifications through his work with the Ambulance Corps. In addition, he was a faculty member of Northeastern University, Massachusetts where he taught on EMT programmes in the Dublin Fire Brigade Training Centre and currently holds Tutor certification as well as being a PHECC examiner.

Aidan is currently a member of the Irish Association of the Order of Malta and is also a member of its Council and company secretary for the charitable companies in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Mr O Brien has been nominated by Order of Malta Ireland, Irish Red Cross and St John Ambulance Ireland.