The Government has approved the appointment of Mr Maurice Quinn to the post of Secretary General of the Department of Defence. He will commence the role on October 2 2013 following the retirement of Mr Michael Howard.
Mr Quinn is currently the Assistant Secretary for Tourism and Corporate Services at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and prior to that, he was an Assistant Secretary in the Department of Defence. He was educated in Ardscoil La Salle in Raheny, and in Trinity College, Dublin.
In accordance with the TLAC arrangements for Secretaries General, Mr Quinn’s appointment is for a seven year term.
Minister for Defence Alan Shatter took the opportunity to thank departing Secretary General Michael Howard, “for his outstanding public service, and for his dedication, drive and commitment to the achievement of results in the Defence arena. I also want to thank him for his expertise in representing the State on many occasions in the International arena and in particular at EU level.”