Dr Daniel O'Hare (chairman)
Dr O'Hare is a graduate of University College, Galway, where he received his BSc and MSc in chemistry, and of St Andrew's in Scotland, where he studied for his PhD in physical chemistry. He was the first principal of Letterkenny Regional Technical College in 1971-74, a former head of Waterford RTC and became the initial president of the then NIHE Dublin in 1977, which first opened its doors to students in 1981.
The NIHE was inaugurated as Dublin City University in 1989 and Dr O'Hare continues to be its president. He was appointed chairman of Beaumont Hospital in 1994 and is chairman of the National Distance Education Council.
Does he eat beef? "Yes," said a spokesperson for Dr O'Hare, "he does."
Mr James Kennedy
Mr Kennedy is general manager of the contact lens plant of Bausch & Lomb, Waterford. A science graduate of University College Cork, who once worked as the production manager of the Imperial Group's cigarette factory in Glasgow, he joined Bausch & Lomb as operations manager in 1981 before taking on his current position in 1983.
He is now the company's general manager and is a former president of the Waterford Chamber of Commerce and the Chambers of Commerce in Ireland.
Do you eat beef? "I do, yes, and I'd like to continue eating it."
Ms Caroline Gill
Ms Gill is chief executive of the Consumers Association of Ireland. She has a BSc and MSc in management and is a graduate of both the Marketing Institute and the Institute of Personnel Management. She worked for an oil company and a multinational insurance company, as well as the Irish Red Cross, before joining the Consumers' Association in 1991.
Do you eat beef? "I eat absolutely anything."
Ms Ann Scanlon
Ms Scanlon is president of the Irish Veterinary Union. She is a graduate of University College, Dublin, and holds both bachelor and masters qualifications in veterinary medicine. She is in mixed practice in Dunboyne, Co Meath, and has been a member of the executive of the Irish Veterinary Union (IVU) for five years, where she is largely responsible for the running of a veterinary based food quality assurance scheme which commenced earlier this year.
Do you eat beef? "I love it. It's part of my daily diet."
Prof Cecily Kelleher
Prof Kelleher has been professor of Health Promotion in University College, Galway, for the last six years, and has undertaken a number of research projects in relation to lifestyle and diet. She has also been a member of the Health Research' Board and the National Advisory Council on Health Promotion and is currently the director of the Centre for Health Promotion Studies and director of the National Nutrition Surveillance Centre.
A graduate of University College, Dublin, and University College, Cork, and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, she has worked as senior medical house officer in a number of Irish hospitals and as an epidemiologist in Northwick Park Hospital in England.
Do you eat beef? "Yes."
Prof John Hannan
Prof Hannan recently retired as the dean of the faculty of veterinary medicine in University College, Dublin. He is a graduate of UCD and the Veterinary College of Ireland and a former veterinary inspector in the Department of Agriculture. Prof Hannan has also worked extensively in the university sector, both as a lecturer in UCD, as professor of food hygiene, and as professor of clinical studies in the School of Veterinary Medicine at Trinity College, Dublin.
He is a former chairman of the Irish branch of the Institute for Food Science and Technology and a former vice president of the World Association of Veterinary Food Hygienists.
Do you eat beef? "Of course I do."
Ms Darina Allen
Ms Allen runs the Ballymaloe Cookery School at Shanagarry, Co Cork, but is probably best known as a writer and television presenter of the Simply Delicious series. She is a member of the Consumer Foods and Ingredients Board of An Bord Bia and is on the board of the Organic Centre.
She is also a member of the International Association of Cooking Professionals and the foodwriters guilds of both Britain and Ireland.
Do you eat beef? "Of course I eat beef. I buy my beef from my local butcher, Michael Cuddigan, and we are just about to taste our first organically reared Kerry beef from our own herd."
Mr William Fagan
Mr Fagan is the Director of Consumer Affairs. A graduate of University College, Dublin, where he received his BComm degree and Masters in Public Administration, he worked in the Departments of Finance, Labour and the Public Service before becoming a senior investigator with the Office of the Ombudsman when it was established in 1984. In 1987, he became director of that office before becoming the director of Consumer Affairs in 1990. He is now in his second term in that office.
Do you eat beef? "Yes."
Dr Fergus Hill
Dr Hill is the current chairman of the Food Safety Advisory Board, which will be replaced by the new Food Safety Board of Ireland. A graduate of University College, Dublin, and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, he also served as the chairman of the FSAB's predecessor, the Food Safety Advisory Committee, and has been public analyst for the Dublin region for 30 years. He is a former member of the European Scientific Committee for Food.
Do you eat beef? "I have no objection whatsoever. If you'd like to supply me with a plate of it, I'll eat it in front of you."