The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, has reappointed three directors of the Environmental Protection Agency for a five-year term, and made one new appointment. The four directors, with the director-general, Mr Liam McCumiskey, work full-time for the Co Wexford agency. They were recommended by an independent committee.
The new director is Mr Padraic Larkin, who was previously programme manager in the agency's licensing and control division. From Co Galway, he is a graduate of NUI Galway and was manager of the regional water laboratory in Co Mayo. He has also worked in the private sector and overseas. He replaces Dr Marie Sherwood, who opted not to seek reappointment. Those reappointed were: Mr Declan Burns, Ms Ann Butler and Mr Iain MacLean.
Mr Dempsey said yesterday he was confident the four would provide the agency with the capacity and leadership to meet the challenges of modern environmental management and protection.
"The EPA is a young organisation and it must have the dynamism and organisational structures to deal with environmental matters of increasing scale and complexity, and provide advice and data on which future policy depends," the Minister said.
