THE Irish Takeover Panel will formally begin monitoring take-overs and mergers of Irish public companies from the beginning of next month, the Minister for Commerce, Science & Technology, Mr Rabbitte, has stated while making an order to bring the remaining provisions of the Irish Takeover Panel Act into operation.

The members of the Irish panel are: Mr Daniel O'Keeffe SC, chairman; Mr Billy McCann, deputy chairman; Mr Brian O'Connor, nominated by the Law Society; Ms Ann Fitzgerald, Irish Association of Investment Managers; Mr Danny Kitchen, Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies; Mr Philip Sykes, Irish Bankers Federation and Mr Ken Beaton. The director-general of the panel is Mr Leo Conway.