IBEC has appointed a director to oversee partnership in member companies.

Mr Gerry Dempsey will liaise with the national centre for partnership recently announced by the Government and will be a member of the steering committee.

Within IBEC he will have responsibility for partnership issues in enterprises and for the promotion and development of workshops, networks and training programmes.

The national centre for partnership will have two full time executives, Mr John O'Dowd general secretary of the Civil and Public Services Union and Mr Gerry Grogan, former chairman and managing director of John Player and an IBEC trustee. The board will be chaired by Ms Evelyn Owens, chairperson of the Labour Court.