THE Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, has appointed Mr Tony Brown, formerly a special adviser to Minister of State, Mr Toddy O'Sullivan, to be Ireland's senior representative at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). He replaces Mr Brian Hillery, formerly a Fianna Fail senator.

Mr Hillery was a full director of the EBRD, earning a salary of £83,300. However, because Ireland shares a full board directorship with Denmark, Mr Brown will take up the post of alternate director, which attracts a salary of £71,000. He has been recently appointed, The Irish Times understands, and takes up his position on July 1st and will serve a three-year term.

Mr Brown was appointed by Mr O'Sullivan as his special adviser. Mr O'Sullivan, who lost his seat in the election, was Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Tourism.

The EBRD, which is based in London, helps channel investment to less-developed European economies. Before Mr Hillery's appointment, the EBRD job bad been filled by a civil servant on secondment from the Department of Finance. The EBRD was established in 1990 and Mr Brown will be the third Irish appointee.