Posted online: Jan 27th, 2010

The recently retired CEO of Donegal VEC Sean O’Longain and the CEO of Postbank, Kilcar woman Margaret Sweeney have been appointed to the new board of Directors of the semi state agency, FAS., which has been embroiled in controversy over the past twelve months.
The announcement was made by Tanaiste Mary Coughlan on a new board that has been reduced from 17 members to just 11.
“The significant governance changes implemented by this legislation, together with the appointment of a new board, sends a clear signal to the public of the root and branch cultural change in accountability and transparency underway at the organisation,” she said.
The Board’s membership draws on a wide range of experience from both the
private and public sector, with expertise in different fields.
The Tánaiste thanked the outgoing Board which included former Chairman Peter McLoone from Ballyshannon for its work and the commitment it had shown, in particular in addressing the significant challenges that the organisation has encountered in the more recent past.
It has been a busy week for Kilcar woman Margaret Sweeney, who just last week was among the winners of this year’s NUI Galway Alumni Awards.
She also has the distinction of being the first female Chief Executive of an Irish retail bank and was formerly the Executive Director of Aer Rianta. She is married to Paraic Lavelle and has two sons, David and Patrick.
Former Donegal VEC Chief O’Longain was the face of Donegal Education for over three decades, before his retirement at the end of last year. His appointment to FAS will be widely welcomed and his presence is expected to give a strong impetus of overhauling an agency that many felt was in need of a major face lift.