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Press Council announces appointment of two new independent Council members

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Wednesday, 8th September 2010
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The Chairman of the Press Council, Dáithí O’Ceallaigh, today (8th September 2010) announced the appointment of two new members of the Press Council of Ireland, who will serve for a three-year term.

The new members are Professor Aine Hyland, Emeritus Professor of Education at University College, Cork, and Mr Eamonn Mac Aodha, Chief Executive of the Irish Human Rights Commission.

They replace two retiring members of the Council, former District Justice Mary Kotsonouris, and Mr Peter O’Mahony, former CEO of the Irish Refugee Council. The appointments were made, on the basis of applications from members of the public, by an independent Appointments Committee, which was chaired by the outgoing Chairman, Professor Thomas Mitchell.

Announcing the new appointments, Mr.O’Ceallaigh said “I am delighted to welcome Professor Hyland and Mr Mac Aodha to the Press Council. They bring a wealth of experience in the public service to the Council.”

Bio notes for the new members:

 

Professor Áine Hyland was appointed to the Press Council for a three year term as an independent member in August 2010. She has an extensive background in education, serving on several committees including the Commission on the Points System and the Commission on School Accommodation, and has served as Chair of the Statutory Educational Disadvantage Committee, and the NESF Group on Literacy and Social Inclusion.

Professor Hyland has served as Vice-President of University College Cork, and as Professor of Education in UCC. She also currently serves as member of the European Universities Association Institutional Evaluation Team, Ageing Well Network, The Governing Body of the National College of Ireland and the Irish Bar Council’s Tribunal of Complaints against Barristers.

Professor Hyland lives in Dublin and has three daughters and six grandchildren.


Mr Ėamonn Mac Aodha was appointed to the Press Council for a three year term as an independent member in August 2010. He is a qualified barrister with over twenty years public service in various roles. He has served with the Department of Foreign Affairs in various postings including at the Irish Embassies to the Holy See, Israel and South Africa and at the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations in Geneva. He has also served as Director of the Human Rights Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs from 2004 – 2007.

Mr Mac Aodha is currently serving as Chief Executive of the Irish Human Rights Commission and has recently completed a post-graduate Diploma in Mediation.

Mr Mac Aodha is married with two sons.