More on Mr. Mc Sharry:

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Source: http://www.irlgov.ie/iveagh/

The Taoiseach today nominated Mr Ray MacSharry as Government representative
to the Convention on the Future of the European Union.

"Ray has outstanding qualifications and credentials for this appointment. He
demonstrated his capacity for dynamic and forward thinking policies during
his term as EU Commissioner by instigating reforms of the Common
Agricultural Policy."

Mr MacSharry was Tánaiste and Minister for Finance while also being Governor
of the European Investment Bank in 1982, MEP for Connaught/Ulster from 1984
to 1987 and again served as Minister for Finance from 1987 to 1988.

"The Convention is about making the EU more relevant to the people of Europe
and engaging them in the European project. It is vital that citizens
understand the who, the why and the how of the EU and I am certain that Ray
MacSharry will make a positive and constructive contribution to the work of
the Convention on behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland".

Separately, consideration is being given to Oireachtas representatives to
the Convention and an announcement from the Ceann Comhairle is expected next
week.

The Convention, the details of which were recently finalised at the Laeken
European Council in December, will hold its inaugural meeting on 28 February
and is chaired by the former French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. The
Convention has been established to promote a deeper and wider debate on the
Future of Europe and in particular to address the issues of democratic
legitimacy and transparency of the Union and its institutions. The
Convention is also to explore means of bringing Europe closer to the people.
The Convention is composed of one Government representative and two
parliamentary representatives from each member state. Proceedings will be
completed after a year and the Convention will produce a final document
which will be presented to the European Council. Together with the outcome
of the national debates on the future of the Union, the Convention's
document will provide a starting point for the Intergovernmental Conference
to be held in 2004.

Mr Bobby McDonagh has been nominated as Mr McSharry's alternate. Mr McDonagh
is the Director General of the European Union Division of the Department of
Foreign Affairs. He has held several previous posts in the Department
dealing with EU matters both in Dublin and Brussels. He also worked for a
number of years at the European Parliament and the European Commission. Most
recently he was Ireland's Ambassador to Malaysia.