Former Labour TD to stand in for press secretary

Derek McDowell represented Dublin North Central between 1992 and 2002

Former Labour Party TD Derek McDowell will stand in for deputy government press secretary Cathy Madden, who will take maternity leave next week.

Mr McDowell, a solicitor by profession, represented Dublin North Central between 1992 and 2002, and subsequently served as a senator until 2007. He also worked for Concern as head of advocacy.

He has contributed opinion pieces to The Irish Times in recent months.

Ms Madden, a former 98fm and Newstalk journalist, was appointed deputy government press secretary on the nomination of Labour in April 2011, having previously worked for the party in a media advisory role.

Mary Minihan

Mary Minihan

Mary Minihan is Features Editor of The Irish Times