Former Arsenal, Manchester City and Sunderland striker Mr Niall Quinn and former Fiann Fáil TD, Ms Marian McGennis, have been appointed to the Sports Council.
Mr Quinn has a substantial financial interest in horse racing and owns a number of high-profile horses. He has scored more international goals than any other Republic of Ireland's player (21) and is the second most capped player with 91 appearances between 1986 and 2002.
He was recently awarded an honorary MBE in Britain for his charity work. He used his testimonial as a fund-raiser for two children's hospitals donating stg£450,000 to Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin and to Sunderland Royal Hospital. He also made a contribution to GOAL.
The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair described him as an example of a sportsman "we can hold up to everybody".
Ms McGennis is a former TD who represented Dublin Central, later redrawn as Dublin South Central. She lost her seat in the last general election and suprisingly failed to make it in the subsequent Seanad elections.
She was investigated over the Quarryvale rezoning scandal after it emerged she was one of a number of representatives on the old Dublin County Council who received a donation from political lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop. She denied any wrongdoing and ultimately voted against the Quarryvale rezoning.
Making the announcement today the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, today praised her work "in the development of community and local sporting facilities, especially for the disadvantaged".
He said both were sure to make a "substantial contribution" to the work of the council.