Politics & Lobbyists
Alastair Hamilton: Invest Northern Ireland
Alastair Hamilton was appointed chief executive of Invest Northern Ireland, the region's economic development agency, with effect from April 2009.
Barry O'Leary: IDA Ireland
Barry O'Leary has been chief executive of IDA Ireland since January 2008 and in this role has successfully reinforced Ireland's position as a
Bill Prasifka: The Competition Authority
Bill Prasifka, Ireland's first aviation regulator, was appointed chairman of The Competition Authority (TCA) in April 2006.
Brian Cowen: An Taoiseach
Brian Cowen became Taoiseach on May 7th, 2008, after being confirmed as the sole nominee for the position of seventh leader of Fianna Fáil on April 5th.
Brian Lenihan: Minister for Finance
Both professionally and personally it has been a challenging year for the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan. When it was announced in December 2009 that he had been diagnosed with cancer, immediately he was forced to defend himself and reassure the public that he can fulfill all the demands of his position. Lenihan remains defiant that he can work through his illness and he remains determined to implement the plan for economic recovery set out in the last two Budgets.
Danny McCoy: Ibec
Danny McCoy is director general at the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec), a post he assumed in July 2009. Ibec is Ireland's largest business representative body with more than 7,000 members from over 70 sectors. it has a staff of 180, based across its Dublin headquarters and five regional offices, and it also maintains a permanent presence in Brussels.
David Dobbin: InterTradeIreland
Since its inception in 1999, InterTradeIreland has engaged over 15,000 companies through the provision of cross-border information and advice. Of these, 1,450 companies have participated cross-border programmes resulting in over €475 million of added value and the creation of 600 jobs.
Declan Kelly: Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland
On September 11th, 2009, Declan Kelly was appointed to the post of Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland by US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
Don Thornhill: National Competitiveness Council
Dr Don Thornhill is a consultant and adviser on strategy and policy as well as a board member of organisations in the private and public sector.
Eamon Ryan: Green Party
The economic crisis has hit Ireland extremely hard but, according to Eamon Ryan, Minister of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the new programme for Government takes into account Ireland's changed circumstances. It puts into action, he says, specific plans for job creation, political reform, education, public transport, banking reform and new measures to protect homeowners and those in arrears.
Eilis Quinlan: ISME
Eilis Quinlan is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), a registered auditor in the UK and Ireland and holds a certificate in computing from DCU.
Enda Kelly: Fine Gael
Mayo-born Enda Kenny is Fine Gael's 10th leader and leader of the Opposition in Dáil Éireann. He stepped up to lead the party in 2002 after Michael Noonan, who had been elected to succeed John Bruton only one year before, resigned following the poor performance of the party in the general elections.
Frank Ryan: Enterprise Ireland
Frank Ryan is chief executive officer of Enterprise Ireland since November 2003. The mission of Enterprise Ireland is to accelerate the development of world-class Irish companies to achieve strong positions in global markets, resulting in increased national and regional prosperity.
Jack O'Connor: Siptu
Jack O'Connor has served as the general president of Siptu, Ireland's largest trade union, since 2003, and was re-elected unopposed in 2006.
Joan Burton: Labour Party
Joan Burton is deputy leader of the Labour Party, a TD for Dublin West and is the party Spokesperson for Finance.
John Whelan: Irish Exporters' Association
John Whelan is the CEO of the Irish Exporters' Association (IEA) which is the premier association representing 70% of the Irish export industry.
Liam Nellis: InterTradeIreland
Born in 1952, Liam Nellis is married to Catherine with two sons. He obtained a law degree from the University of London and went on to receive a Masters in Social Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Ulster.
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn: EU Commissioner
Former Fianna Fáil minister Máire Geoghegan-Quinn is the new EU Commissioner with responsibility for research and innovation. Ireland's first female Commissioner, Geoghegan-Quinn's strong credentials, calibre and pervious experience made her an ideal candidate for the job which encompasses a wide remit within research and innovation.
Mark Fielding: ISME
Mark Fielding has been chief executive officer of business lobby group the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) since 2001. He has been involved in the SME sector throughout his working life, as well as being a senior partner in an accountancy and management consultancy firm specialising in SMEs. He has worked in the UK, France and Ireland and has assisted in the starting up of more than 300 companies.
Martin McGuinness: Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness first stepped into the Stormont Government alongside Ian Paisley on May 8th, 2007, following the St Andrews Agreement. A Sinn Féin politician and former IRA leader, McGuinness is the MP for the Mid Ulster constituency.
Mary Coughlan: Tánaiste
Born in Co Donegal in 1965, Mary Coughlan TD is a daughter of the late Cathal Coughlan. Following Bertie Ahern's resignation in 2008, Coughlan, in a Cabinet re-shuffle, became Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. She previously served as minister for agriculture and food, minister for social and family affairs and minister of state at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
Micheál Martin: Minister for Foreign Affairs
Micheál Martin was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in May 2008 following a Cabinet reshuffle and Brian Cowen taking over from Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. Prior to this Martin was minister for enterprise, trade and employment from September 2004 to May 2008, minister for health from January 2000 to September 2004, and minister for education and science from June 1997 to January 2000.
Patricia Callan: SFA
Patricia Callan is the director of the Small Firms Association (SFA). Its services include the provision of advice and assistance on economic, commercial, employee relations and social affairs issues. It also provideds training programmes, networking opportunities and cost-effective group schemes.
Peter Robinson: First Minister of Northern Ireland
Peter Robinson has been the First Minister of Northern Ireland since June 5th, 2008, having been leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) since May 31st of that year. At the time of going to press, he has stepped aside from his role for a period of six weeks.
Peter Sutherland: International statesman
Peter Sutherland is a highly respected and successful Irish figure straddling the global spheres of both business and politics. The founding director general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), an EU commissioner and Attorney General of Ireland in two governments, chairman of BP for 13 years until December 31st, 2009, and a banker, his vast CV was once described by Spectator magazine as
Richard Bruton: Fine Gael
Richard Bruton is Fine Gael's deputy leader and Spokesperson on Finance. An experienced deputy representing Dublin North Central, he is a research economist by profession and an influential member of the Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service. He has held eight different portfolios on the Fine Gael front bench.
Tim O'Connor: Consultant
Tim O'Connor is currently a consultant working with Irish companies seeking to grow globally. However, he worked in the Irish Public Service from 1972 to early 2010, most recently as Secretary General to the President.
