Several leading figures from the business community have been appointed to the new body charged with co-ordinating work on trade and business development between North and South.
The Duke of Abercorn, chairman of the Laganside Development Agency, Mr Kieran Mc Gowan, former chief executive of IDA Ireland, and Mr Martin Naughton, chairman of Glen Dimplex, are among those appointed to the Trade and Business Development Body. It will devise new approaches to cross-Border business development in areas of training, research, marketing and quality improvement and the promotion of North-South trade.
Other members include the president of the ICTU, Ms Inez McCormack, Ms Jackie Harrison, director of enterprise at IBEC, Ms Mary Ainscough, previously chief executive of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland, and Mr Carl McCann, vice-chairman of Fyffes. Also appointed were Ms Mary Breslin, a partner in Total Engineering and a former member of the Northern Ireland Electricity Board, Mr Harold Ennis, founding chairman of Boxmore, Mr Barry Fitzsimmons, a stockbroker at Cunningham Coates in Belfast, Mr Robbie Smith, a lecturer at Griffith College in Dublin, and Mr Feargal McCormack, a chartered accountant from Newry, Co Down.
The body's functions will include promoting cross-Border trade events and marketing initiatives and identifying new areas of trade between North and South.
The body is one of six new North-South implementation bodies established under the Belfast Agreement to operate under the auspices of the North-South Ministerial Council.
Twelve members were also appointed to the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission and 11 appointments were announced to the Food Safety Promotion Board - one further member has to be appointed.
Twenty-four people were appointed to the North-South Language Body. Among those with responsibility through the Irish language agency are Mr Liam Corey, principal of St Louis Primary School in Ballymena, Co Antrim; Ms Anne Craig, a former BBC Irish language producer; Mr Aodan Mac Poilin of the Ultach Trust in Belfast; and SDLP member of Cookstown District Council, Mr Patsy McGlone.
Those members with responsibility through the Ulster Scots Agency include Mr John Erskine, assistant librarian at Stranmillis Teacher Training College in Belfast; Lord Laird, who runs a PR company in Belfast; Dr Phillip Robinson of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum; and landscape architect Mr John McIntyre.
Two of the more notable appointments in the Republic are Mr Liam O Cuinneaga in, director of Oideas Gael, and Ms Jacqueline Ni Fhearghusa, the administrator of Gaelscoileanna.