The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, has greeted the appointments to the North-South Implementation Bodies which foster cross-Border co-operation.
Mr Cowen thanked outgoing members for their work during the bodies' first three-year term following their establishment in March 1998.
The consensus is that their first terms were a success, given the political background at the time they were set up. They are also held to have contributed on a practical level to good North-South co-operation in a range of sectors.
A Department of Foreign Affairs representative said all existing chairs of the bodies had been reappointed and had agreed to continue their work. The Irish Times has also been told it is hoped that new appointees will blend in with those previously appointed and that continuity is assured.
The Dublin City Manager, Mr John Fitzgerald, joins the board of Intertrade Ireland - the Trade and Business Development Body. Dr Martin Naughton retains the chair and Mr Barry Fitzsimons of Cunningham Coates Stockbrokers in Belfast returns to the vice-chairmanship.
Among the new appointees are Mr Trefor Campbell, managing director of Moypark, and Mr Jack Gilmour, a well-known restaurateur. Dr Inez McCormack of the ICTU also returns to the board.
The board of the North-South Language Body is largely returned under the joint chairmanship of Ms Maighréad Uí Mhairtín and Lord Laird of Artigarvan who also chairs the Ulster-Scots Agency. They are joined on the board by Mr Alistair Simpson, a well-known figure in the Apprentice Boys of Derry.
The chairman of the Food Safety Promotion Board, Mr Bertie Kerr from Fermanagh, is joined by Prof Charlie Daly as vice-chairman. He is dean of food science at University College Cork.
Among those reappointed to the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission are the UUP's Mr Jack Allen and the SDLP former chairman of Newry and Mourne Council, Mr Frank Feely.
The bodies continue their work on a "care and maintenance basis" only under legislation passed by the Oireachtas last November following suspension of the Stormont institutions last October.