The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore TD, have announced the appointment of Niall Burgess to the post of Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Mr Burgess’ appointment takes effect from April 30 2014.
Mr. Burgess has served as Director General of the Anglo Irish Division at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade since August 2010. Previous to that he was Consul General of Ireland in New York from May 2007. Prior to assuming that role, he was Director with responsibility for political affairs at the Anglo Irish Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs in the period leading up to the establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive in May 2007. He has served with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Chicago, New York, Geneva and in Brussels with the Council Secretariat of the European Union. Mr Burgess was born in Dublin and initially trained as an archaeologist.
Mr Burgess will succeed Mr David Cooney, who has been in the role since January 2009 and who completes his term as Secretary General on April 29, 2014.