The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD, has today announced the formal establishment of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the qualifications and quality assurance authority which replaces the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI), the Further Education and Training Awards Council of Ireland (FETAC), and the Higher Education Training and Awards Council (HETAC). It will also take over functions of the Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB).

Additionally, the Minister announced that the Chairperson of QQI will be Mr Gordon Clark. Mr Clark was previously the Head of Unit in the European Commission with responsibility for the development of the EU’s lifelong learning policy. He is a trained accountant and has also previously worked in the EU Court of Auditors.