PAT Dineen is used to seeing his name associated with problems at State companies. He stepped down as executive chairman of Irish Steel earlier this year after seeing the company through several difficult years and its sale to the Indian group, Ispat International.
Previously he had been chairman of Bord Gais from 1984 to 1989. He oversaw the acquisition of the town gas companies throughout the State and the construction of the Kinsale Head gas field and pipeline.
The millionaire insurance broker must have been expecting a somewhat easier time as chairman of Bord na Mona when he took over last November at the request of the Minister for Energy, Mr Lowry. It would appear that he has not been so fortunate.
In his 50s and with a personal fortune estimated at £15 million, Mr Dineen is a well known figure in his native Cork. He was educated at Presentation Brothers in Cork and left after his Leaving Certificate to work first for Norwich Union and then for Standard Life.
In 1965 he established his own life and pensions company in Cork. The business grew rapidly and in 1972 he sold 40 per cent of the company to the merchant bank, Charterhouse. The international insurance group Sedgwick acquired the Charterhouse stake a year later and the company became Sedgwick Dineen. He sold his stake in the company, which was valued at over £10 million, in 1994.
A keen cricket player, he captained the Irish team which beat the West Indies in 1969. He was capped over 30 times for Ireland as a batsman; he also played rugby for Dolphin in Cork and League of Ireland soccer for Cork United while still at school.
Married with three children he is a keen golfer. When asked directly about his wealth in a earlier interview he replied famously: "All I need is a new golf swing".