The Government has approved the appointment of the new Chief of Staff of the Defence forces.
Deputy Chief of Staff (Support), Major General Conor O’Boyle, will succeed Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Sean McCann, who retires on August 12th, 2013.
The appointment was approved by the Cabinet when it met yesterday evening.
Minister for Justice and Defence Alan Shatter congratulated Maj Gen O'Boyle adding: "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Lieutenant-General Sean McCann for his outstanding contribution as Chief of Staff over the last 3 years and for his lifetime dedication to the Defence Forces. "
The Government also approved the appointment of Maurice Quinn to the positionof secretary-general of the Department of Defence with effect from October 2nd, 2013 on the retirement of Michael Howard.
Mr Quinn is the assistant secretary for tourism and corporate services at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Until March of this year he was an assistant secretary in the Department of Defence. His appointment is for a seven-year term.