Coughlan steps down from Chambers Ireland role

The deputy president of Chambers Ireland has stepped down from the organisation’s board due to work pressures.

In a letter read out at the Chamber's AGM today Mr Coughlan said because of work pressures resulting from changing business circumstances, he would not be putting his name forward for the role of president. Mr Coughlan said he was also stepping down as deputy president and from the board.

Mr Coughlan, a senior executive at Hewlett-Packard's European Software Centre in Galway, emerged as a director of Libertas, which campaigned for a No vote during the Lisbon Treaty campaign. He had stressed his opposition was on a personal basis.

Chambers Ireland said the vast majority of its members had supported a Yes vote.

A spokesman for Chambers said this evening he was not aware of any correspondence with Mr Coughlan prior to his letter to the board and said work pressures were the only reason given for the decision.

With current president David Pierce also stepping down at the end of his term today the spokesman said an egm would be held early in the New Year and a new deputy president and president would be appointed. No other Chamber member had put their name forward for the role as president, he added.

Mr Coughlan could not be contacted for comment.