Consul general moves to post with President

Ireland's consul general in New York, Tim O'Connor, has been appointed as secretary general to President McAleese.

The appointment follows the retirement of Brian McCarthy from the post after a 45-year career in the Civil Service. Mr McCarthy was secretary general to President McAleese for the past nine years.

In a statement the Government announced that Mr O'Connor had been appointed to the post after consultation with the President. He will take up his duties in March.

Mr O'Connor (54) is a native of Limerick and was educated at St Munchin's College, Limerick, and Maynooth College, where he graduated with a BA and Higher Diploma in Education.

He joined the Civil Service in 1974 and moved to the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1979. He served in a number of senior posts in the department and was joint secretary of the North/South Ministerial Council based in Armagh from 1999 to 2005 when he moved as consul general to New York.