Mr Sean Donlon has been nominated by the Government to the Board of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). He will replace Mr Eoin Ryan who has served on the Baord since 2010. Mr Donlon will give up a number of non-executive directorships upon assuming his new role.

Mr Donlon is a former Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs. He is also a former US Ambassador and former Ambassador to Mexico.

Ireland is a founder member of the London based EBRD. The Bank was established in 1991 to help develop a new private sector in the countries of the former Soviet Bloc. The EBRD is the largest single investor in the region and mobilises significant foreign direct investment for the region in addition to the financing it provides itself.

Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD thanked the departing Mr Ryan for his work and welcomed the nomination of Mr Donlon who he says will no doubt bring “a wealth of experience to his new appointment”.