Former humanitarian aid worker Mary Van Lieshout has been appointed as an adviser to President Michael D Higgins and took up her duties yesterday.
Ms Van Lieshout was campaigns organiser and policy manager with Oxfam Ireland from 1989 to 1998, when she joined the former eastern health board as health promotion officer.
Since 2002, she has been head of research and standards development with the National Disability Authority, the independent statutory agency established to advise Government on disability policy. Ms Van Lieshout holds an MSc in community health from Trinity College Dublin and an MA in international relations from Dublin City University.
Her appointment is seen as reflecting the strong commitment of the President to keep disability issues high on the national agenda.
A statement from Áras an Uachtaráin said Wally Young will remain as media adviser.