14th September 2016
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, today announced that the Government has appointed Dr Orlaigh Quinn as Secretary General of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The appointment will be effective from Monday 3rd October. Dr Quinn is currently Assistant Secretary in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and Programme Director for Public Service Reform & Delivery – which includes the Civil Service Renewal Plan and Government Reform. She has previously held roles in the Department of Social Protection as HR Director and Head of National Pensions Policy and the delivery of state pensions. She also was responsible for EU/International Affairs and Information Services, and has worked for the European Commission in Brussels as an expert on employment and social policy, and a number of other Government Departments, including the Central Statistics Office and the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
Dr Quinn is a former Visiting Research Fellow of Trinity College Dublin and holds a Masters in Public Management and a Doctorate in Governance from Queen’s University Belfast. She is the author of two books on public policy topics.
Making the announcement, Minister Mitchell O’Connor said:
“My Department has a wide and varied remit which presents many important opportunities and challenges. Amongst the Department’s various priorities is the central aim of the government’s effort to continue and strengthen the jobs recovery through initiatives such as the Action Plan for Jobs and regional development strategies. Small and medium sized enterprises remain vitally important to the Irish economy in this regard, as does the continuing development of innovation and skills, being furthered through the Science Strategy and other initiatives.
“Since arriving in this Department I have noted the ability and commitment of the team both in the Department and within the agencies under my remit.
“I am delighted that the Government has appointed Dr Orlaigh Quinn to lead this team at this very important time. I am happy to have a candidate with the skills and experience to lead this Department in pursuing the ambitious goals that I am putting in place. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the current Secretary General John Murphy for the critical contribution he has made during his tenure here in the Department.
“I would like to wish Orlaigh the very best in filling this role”.
ENDS
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