Press release
Tánaiste appoints members to the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces
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Published on
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With the agreement of Government, the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin today (5 April 2023) made the following appointments to the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces:
Further appointments may be made in the near future in line with the recommendations of the Report.
The appointments, and the establishment of the External Oversight Body, follows the publication of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality Issues in the Defence Forces on 28 March 2023.
In line with one of the report’s thirteen recommendations, the government agreed to progress setting up an External Oversight Body, on a non-statutory basis initially.
Referring to the appointments the Tánaiste Micheál Martin said:
“The immediate establishment of the External Oversight Body is a critical element to driving the necessary culture change throughout the Defence Forces and increasing transparency and accountability. The calibre and combined skills and experience of each member gives me every confidence that this will happen.”
The first task of the Body is to develop detailed Terms of Reference of External Oversight Body in line with the recommendations of the Report for the approval of the Tánaiste.
Prof. Brian MacCraith held the position of President of Dublin City University (DCU) from July 2010 to July 2020, during which time DCU grew significantly in terms of scale, footprint, and reputation. During that period, DCU was Ireland’s fastest growing university and added 3 new campuses to its original base in Glasnevin. As DCU President, Prof. MacCraith was very active in developing international partnerships, especially in the areas of research and innovation. He also pioneered a number of important developments in the area of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, including DCU’s ‘Women in Leadership’ initiative and the designation of DCU as the world’s first Autism-friendly University.
Prof. MacCraith is a member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics, an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Ireland, and a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineers.
He is Chair of the Board of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and of the Board of Trustees of Genio. From November 2020 to April 2022, he chaired the High-Level Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccination. He was also Chair of the Future of Media Commission, the report of which was published by Government in July 2022.
Josephine Feehily has over 25 years’ experience at the most senior levels in the Irish public service and, since her retirement from full-time executive work, in leading critical change initiatives on behalf of the Irish Government.
During her career she held a wide range of positions including leading the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, recognised as one of the most agile and digitally enabled public bodies. In Revenue, she was Commissioner from 1998 and Chairman from 2008 to 2015 – the first woman to hold either position. She led significant change and innovation during a time of growth and challenge.
In recent years, as part of a suite of reform measures in the Justice sector, she established and chaired the first Policing Authority in Ireland, to oversee the performance by the Garda Síochána of its policing functions and to make senior Garda appointments independent of Government, and later chaired the Pensions Commission which reviewed aspects of Ireland’s State pension system and the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
Currently, Josephine is Chair of the Governing Body of the Technological University of the Shannon.
Patricia is former General Secretary of ICTU. She is a former vice-President of SIPTU and also served as one of two vice-Presidents of Congress. A full time official with SIPTU for over 25 years, she was the first woman to serve as a national officer of the union when she was appointed vice-President, in May 2010. She has represented workers in all areas of the economy, in both the public and private sectors. Patricia was a lead negotiator in both the Croke Park and Haddington Road agreements. She played a leading role in the Irish Ferries dispute (2005/6) and in subsequent negotiations that saw an overhaul of employment rights law and the establishment of the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA). Patricia currently serves on the boards of the Apprenticeship Council, Court Services Board and the Climate Change Advisory Council and Housing Commission.
Julie Sinnamon is former CEO of Enterprise Ireland, a government agency responsible for the growth of Irish-owned businesses in global markets. Prior to her appointment to CEO in November 2013, Julie held a number of senior public sector positions, spanning a 30-year career in Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.
Julie is on the Investment Committee of the Irish Strategic Investment Fund and is a member of the Irish Government’s Climate Change Advisory Council. Julie is Chair of European Movement Ireland and holds a number of Directorships including Director of the PWC Ireland Public Interest Body, Cairn Homes plc, The Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, The Agricultural Trust and Social Entrepreneurs Ireland.
A strong proponent of initiatives that drive diversity and the building of balanced teams in the workplace, Julie is a champion for women engaging at all levels within both the public and private sectors and is Co-Chair of Balance for Better Business, an independent group established by the Irish Government tasked with improving gender balance in senior leadership and Boards in Ireland.
In 2022 Julie was appointed as Chair of the Independent Oversight Group which oversees the implementation of the Commission on Defence Forces report’s recommendations.
Aongus Hegarty is a seasoned board member, strategic advisor, and thought leader, with four decades of global business experience. He has a strong focus on people, business, and technology, recognising the critical and connected role all three play in driving growth and innovation.
From 1999 to 2023, Aongus held several executive roles at Dell Technologies. His most recent was President for International Markets, an organisation spanning over 170 countries. Aongus is a respected commentator on business, innovation, leadership, digital transformation, sustainability, and diverse and inclusive workforces. He has also served as the Chair of the Executive Council for the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union.
In 2021, the government appointed Aongus as Co-Chair of the Balance for Better Business (B4BB) initiative to help increase participation by women on boards in listed and private companies. He is a member of the Special Olympics Ireland Council of Patrons, Chair of the Munster Rugby Commercial Advisory Group, and a member of the 30% Club Ireland Advisory Group.
Aongus is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and received the Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2013 from the University of Limerick. In 2019 Aongus received a prestigious life fellowship from the Irish Management Institute (IMI).
Jacqui Mc Crum joined the department as Secretary General in August 2020.
Prior to that she was Deputy Secretary General in the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
Previously she was the Director General and Accounting Officer in the Office of the Ombudsman, Offices of the Information Commissioner and Commissioner for Environmental Information, Standards in Public Office Commission, Referendum Commission and Commission for Public Service Appointments. She was previously Deputy/Acting Financial Services Ombudsman, Ireland and worked on the amalgamation of that office with the Pensions Ombudsman's office.
Prior to that she had spent the majority of career in financial services in London and Dublin. She holds various academic qualifications including Professional Diploma in Human Rights and Equality; Certified Mediator; Certificate in Pensions Law and Practice; Post Graduate certificate in Sustainable Business (University of Cambridge) and Diploma in Montessori Studies.