The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, has indicated that he proposes to appoint businessman Paddy McGuinness as chair to the board of the Western Development Commission. The appointment is for the term of the existing board which runs until February 20 2014.
McGuinness will come before the Oireachtas committee for Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht, before the appointment is confirmed.
Additional members of the board include: Mary Devine O’Callaghan, practice manager – Kilrane O’Callaghan & Company Solicitors; Mary Hoade, member of Galway County Council; Jackie Maguire, Leitrim County Manager; Martina Minogue, Director, e Teams; Mr Neville Bagnall, businessman and member of the Council for the West; Katie Sweeney, CEO, Co Mayo VEC; Gerry O’Connor, businessman; Vincent Roche, former CEO North Western Regional Fisheries Board; Joe Kelly, teacher and former member of Donegal County Council; and Jim Devenney, farmer and community worker.
The Western Development Commission (WDC) is a statutory body with responsibility for fostering and promoting economic and social development in the Western Region (counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Clare).