The new chairman of the Irish Museum of Modern Art is expected to be Mr Eoin McGonigal SC, The Irish Times has learned. His appointment is likely to be announced today.
Last week the chairwoman of the board of IMMA, Ms Marie Donnelly, resigned after a controversy over the proposed appointment of Dr Brian Kennedy. He refused the nomination.
Mr McGonigal is a prominent barrister. He represented former Taoiseach Mr Charles Haughey in the Moriarty tribunal and has been on the IMMA board since February 2000.
Meanwhile, the external expert engaged to help in the selection of a director for the IMMA has accused the Minister, Ms de Valera, of "significant responsibility for this unfolding debacle."
Mr David Ross, former director of the Whitney Museum of American Art, was one of the five members of the interviewed candidates for the board.
After two interviews the panel remained split, with two of the members favouring Dr Brian Kennedy while Mr Ross and the other two members voted to continue the search. Mr Ross later changed his mind.
In a letter to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Island, Mr Ross said he was "appalled and saddened" by the way the situation has been handled.
"Mrs Marie Donnelly, a truly remarkable public-spirited woman of great integrity and intelligence, has been ridiculed in the press and with no support from you, left with no option but to resign. IMMA has been denied the services of Dr Brian Kennedy, a talented and deserving museum director."
Mr Ross said he had changed his mind about Dr Kennedy even though he had misgivings about some of the points made during the selection process. He gave his views in writing to the board.
He called on Ms de Valera to issue "a serious public apology" to Ms Donnelly.