New Teagasc Chairman Appointed

Dr. Noel Cawley has been appointed as the new Chairman of Teagasc by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr Brendan Smith TD, today Wednesday 17 September. Dr. Cawley takes over from Dr. Tom O'Dwyer who has completed two five year terms as Chairman.

Dr. Cawley was Chief Executive of the Irish Dairy Board until 2006. He also served as Chairman of the Irish Horse Board, and more recently chaired the Government-established Seafood Strategy Review and Implementation Group. A native of County Sligo, Dr. Cawley also served as chairman of the Farmers' Charter Monitoring Group set up by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and is a Director of One 51 Plc.

Minister Smith thanked Dr. O'Dwyer for his enormous contribution as Chairman of Teagasc over the last 10 years, which was a time of major change in the agri-food sector, and said; "Dr. O'Dwyer leaves Teagasc having set out a clear structure and mission for the organisation for the years ahead most recently with the initiation of the Teagasc Research Vision programme and with the launch of the Teagasc Foresight 2030 report which identifies the research, innovation and support priorities for the next quarter century for Ireland's agri-food sector".

Teagasc Director Professor Gerry Boyle said that he looked forward to working closely with Dr. Cawley, as Teagasc evolves and changes to grasp the new and emerging opportunities for the agriculture and food sectors while helping those in the farming and food industries to build sustainable futures as they face the challenges ahead.

Professor Boyle joined the Minister in paying tribute to the outgoing chairman Dr. Tom O’Dwyer. He said; “since his appointment in 1998, having returned from a long and distinguished career in the European Commission in Brussels where he served as Chef de Cabinet to two EU Commissioners, and as Director of Livestock Products, Dr Tom O’Dwyer has lead Teagasc as it adapted into the dynamic science based, innovative organization that serves the agriculture and food sectors so well today.”

In addition to the appointment of a new chairman, Minister Brendan Smith has appointed two other new members to the Teagasc Authority. Padraig Gibbons from Bullaun, Mayneen, Co Mayo has been appointed and will be the ICOS nominee on the Teagasc board. He is a dairy farmer, chairman of Connacht Gold co-op, and former president of ICOS.

Frank O’Mahony from Ballyorban, Monkstown, Co. Cork has also been appointed for a five year term to the Teagasc Authority. He was nominated by Macra Na Feirme.

They replace Michael O’Dwyer from county Tipperary and Patrick Kelly from Donegal. Michael O’Dwyer from Bridge View, Cashel has served on the board for 20 years making him one of the longest serving members of the board. Patrick Kelly, a dairy farmer from Killygordon Co. Donegal has completed his five year term on the Teagasc Authority, having been appointed by Macra Na Feirme.