The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, has appointed Dr Tom O'Dwyer as the new chairman of the Heritage Council.
Dr O'Dwyer is currently chairman of Teagasc, and has served previously as chef de cabinet to two Irish European Commissioners.
He served as director general in the European Commission for Co-ordination of Structural Policies and, more recently, as director general for education, training and youth.
Announcing her decision yesterday to appoint Dr O'Dwyer to the post, Ms de Valera referred to Dr O'Dwyer's extensive and wide-ranging experience in public affairs in both Ireland and Europe.
Dr O'Dwyer succeeds the late Freda Roundtree, who was appointed by Ms de Valera's predecessor, Mr Michael D. Higgins.
The full list of the new council is due to be announced shortly, and Ms de Valera expressed her gratitude to the outgoing members who had served since 1995.
