A Newscaster, an artist, a magazine editor and a retired footballer are among the 20 members of the new National Disability Authority, established by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr O'Donoghue.
Thirteen of the authority's members have a disability or have family members with a disability, while a further three represent service-providers and four represent the employers, unions and responsible Government Departments.
The Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Ms Mary Wallace, said the board was "the broad-based, balanced representative group we set out to achieve". The Disability Authority's main role will be the development and implementation of standards for services for people with disability. It will publish a yearly report, which will be presented to the Oireachtas, and will carry out research.
Nine members of the authority are women, and it will be chaired by Ms Angela Kerins, chief executive of Rehab Care and director of public affairs with Rehab Group.
The other members are: the RTE newscaster, Mr John Finnerty, parent (learning disability); the artist, Mr Gene Lambert (physical disability), national representative of the Council of People with Disabilities; Ms Margot Davis, editor of Modern Woman magazine, parent (mental health); Mr Matt Connor, former Co Offaly footballer (physical disability, wheelchair user); Ms Helen Caesar (sensory disability, hearing impairment), Irish Council of People with Disabilities; Ms Elizabeth O'Leary, barrister (sensory disability, sight impairment); Mr John Dolan of the Irish Wheelchair Association (physical disability); Ms Maisie Dooley, parent (autism); Ms Noreen Gildea, parent (learning disability); Mr Diarmuid Ring (mental health) Irish Council of People with Disabilities; Mr Jim Casey (physical disability), Irish Council of People with Disabilities; Ms Olive Moriarty, (physical disability, wheelchair user); Mr Muiris O'Donoghue, parent (learning disability); Mr John O'Gorman, administrator of homes for the mentally disabled operated by Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary; Ms Paula Carey, ICTU; Mr Christy Lynch, chief executive KARE; Mr Robert Grier, IBEC; Ms Sylda Langford, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Mr Brendan Ingoldsby, Department of Health and Children.