Senior counsel Mr Dermot Gleeson has been appointed to the board of Allied Irish Banks.

A former attorney general, Mr Gleeson represented the bank at the Committee of Public Accounts inquiry into Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT). Rejecting any suggestion that the appointment could be seen as a reward for his work at the DIRT inquiry or an indication that AIB was bringing legal expertise on board in preparation for a battle with the Revenue Commissioners, an AIB spokesman said Mr Gleeson brought "tremendous experience" to the board.

This appointment had "nothing whatsoever to do with whatever action AIB may take" on DIRT liabilities on bogus non-resident accounts, he said. Mr Gleeson brought his "wide experience of the ways of the world" to the board, he added. Mr Gleeson's appointment brings the number of directors on the AIB board to 13 - increasing the number of non-executive directors to eight. He will receive an annual fee of £23,000.

A highly experienced lawyer who has been involved in many high profile cases, Mr Gleeson was attorney general and a member of the Council of State from 1994 to 1997. He was chairman of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Service from 1986 to 1992. He represented Goodman International at the Beef tribunal.

AIB is expected to appoint more non-executive directors in coming months since the bank has stated that the ideal ratio of non-executive to executive directors is two-thirds to one-third. Two non-executive directors retired in 1999 - Ms Miriam Hederman O'Brien and Mr Ray McLouglin.