Martin appointment Gillane named as chef de cabinet

FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin has appointed one of his former key advisers as the programme manager or chef de cabinet in his leader’s office.

Deirdre Gillane was a special adviser for Mr Martin in health, enterprise and trade and foreign affairs between 2000 and 2010 before becoming a special adviser to then taoiseach Brian Cowen for his last 11 months in office.

Ms Gillane, who is from Glaslough in Cork city, is a former nurse and a former official with the Irish Nurses Organisation. She was appointed a special adviser to Mr Martin when he was minister for health in 2000.

Ms Gillane is known as having shrewd political instincts and is viewed by colleagues as a “straight talker”.

As programme manager, she will take on the role of being Mr Martin’s main political and policy adviser.