TOM ARNOLD, the chief executive of the charity Concern Worldwide, has been appointed to chair the forthcoming Convention on the Constitution.
Announcing the appointment, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: “Tom’s strong personal commitment to justice and to improving the lives of citizens around the world make him an ideal choice for this task.
“As well as significant experience in public administration, he has an international reputation for his humanitarian work and he also brings a wealth of management experience as CEO of an organisation which spans the globe.”
Mr Arnold, who is chairman of the Irish Times Trust and a director of the Irish Times Ltd, said: “It is a great honour for me to be appointed chairperson of the Convention on the Constitution.
“I will do my best to ensure that every member of the convention gets an opportunity to contribute to the work of the convention.”
The Taoiseach told Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams in the Dáil yesterday that he expected the first meeting of the convention would take place on either November 24th or December 1st, but this was a decision for the chairman and the committee. He said the convention would not be precluded from travelling around the State or to Northern Ireland.
Mr Arnold has been chief executive of Concern Worldwide since October 2001. He has indicated he will step down from his position with Concern Worldwide during 2013 as the work of the convention grows.
His precise remuneration will be agreed in due course, the Government said in a statement.
