The Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen, T.D., announced today (Thursday 11th February, 2010) that the Government has decided to nominate Mr. Eoin O’Shea for appointment by the Council of the European Union as a Member of the European Court of Auditors.
The vacancy on the Court of Auditors arises following the resignation of Mrs. Maire Geoghegan Quinn, in order to take up her new position as a Member of the European Commission.
Mr. O’Shea is a chartered accountant and a barrister, with significant audit, accounting and management experience across both Government and the corporate sector. He is currently a member of the audit committee of An Garda Síochána (the Irish police service). He has served as a Council Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, and was Chief Executive of the Institute of Directors in Ireland from 2006 to 2008.
The Taoiseach said that “Mr. O’Shea has extensive knowledge of Irish Government and business, and his particular experience in audit and accounting together with his legal expertise, mean that he would be an excellent Member of the European Court of Auditors”.
Under the EU Treaties, Members of the Court of Auditors are appointed for a term of six years by the Council acting unanimously after consulting the European Parliament. As Mrs. Geoghegan Quinn has resigned before the end of her term, her replacement will be appointed for the remainder of that term, which runs to February 2012.
The Taoiseach said that he wanted to take the opportunity to express once more the Government’s appreciation of Mrs. Geoghegan Quinn’s long and committed service at the Court of Auditors, adding “I want to congratulate Maire Geoghegan Quinn once again, now that she has formally been appointed as Member of the European Commission with responsibility for Research, Science and Innovation.”
Ends
(Eoin O’Shea CV attached)
Eoin O’Shea ACA, AITI, BL
Qualifications
- Chartered Accountant, Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, 2000
- Member of the Irish Taxation Institute, 2005
- Diploma in Commercial Law, Law Society of Ireland, 2006
- Diploma in Legal Studies, Honorable Society of Kings Inns, 2008
- Degree of Barrister at Law, Honorable Society of Kings Inns, 2009 (Merit)
- Diploma in Commercial Litigation, Law Society of Ireland, 2009 (Merit)
Career
Chairman, Ground Marketing Group 2000-Date
Founder of strategic marketing communications company, Ground Marketing Group in 2000. The company provides strategic marketing consulting to large national and international clients. In December 2009, the business became part of the international advertising agency, Havas Plc, and currently trades as Ground 4D Ireland.
Chief Executive, Institute of Directors in Ireland 2006-2008
Represented the interests of senior company directors in Ireland. Wrote policy and position papers on company law, competition law and taxation. Advised members on commercial and business matters. Interacted with ODCE, CRO, Dept Enterprise Trade and Employment and Dept. Finance on directors’ issues. Served on the advisory committee of the Companies Registration Office and the management committee of the IoD Centre for Corporate Governance at UCD. Lectured on the topic of non-executive directors at the UCD Centre for Corporate Governance.
Management Consultant, Deloitte & Touche 1997-2000
Other Information
Instituteof Chartered Accountants in Ireland. – Served as Council Member 2005-2008, Chairman of Members in Business 2006-2008 and Member of the Ethics Committee 2005-2006.
Garda Audit Committee. – Appointed as a member of the audit committee of An Garda Siochána in October 2008 by the Minister for Justice and reappointed in October 2009 for a three year term. The audit committee’s role is to advise the Garda Commissioner on the use of state resources under his control.
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann – Appointed in January 2009 by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, to conduct a review of state spending of c. EUR 20 million on the development programme of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, a national voluntary body which promotes Irish traditional music. Report presented July 2009, published September 2009.
St AndrewsAgreement Review. – Appointed, in November 2007, pursuant to the St Andrews Agreement, as an expert/adviser to review the efficiency and effectiveness of the North/South bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement. Appointed by the Irish Government, in co-operation with the Northern Executive and the North South Ministerial Council. Our interim report was accepted by the North South Ministerial Council, meeting in plenary format, in February 2009.
Chartered Accountants Benevolent Association. – Appointed a Director of this charitable body in 2009. The Association assists members of the profession experiencing financial difficulties
Instituteof Management Consultants in Ireland. – Served as President of the Institute 2005-2006, Vice President 2003-2005 and Treasurer 2003-2005.
Personal Details. – Aged 33, Mr O’Shea is married and lives in Dublin. He is originally from Athlone, Co Westmeath.