TOM ARNOLD, THE CEO of Concern Worldwide has been appointed by the government to chair the Constitutional Convention.
The Convention had been due to begin meeting this month but had been delayed as the search for a chairperson continued for longer than had been expected.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore announced the appointment this afternoon and said they were “delighted” that Arnold had accepted the role.
The Convention was set up to examine and modernise the 75-year-old Bunreacht na hÉireann. The first items up for discussion will be whether the voting age should be lowered to 17 and a review of the length of presidential terms.
Arnold will step down from his position as head of Concern during 2013 as the work involved in the Convention increases. He has been head of the charity for eleven years.
He will be paid for his new role but the government has said only that his “precise remuneration will be agreed in due course”.
Arnold said the appointment was a “great honour” for him.
“I will do my best to ensure that every member of the Convention gets an opportunity to contribute to the work of the Convention,” he said.
“I am also looking forward to hearing the views of civil society on each of the issues we have been asked to consider”.
The 100-member Convention will meet on eight weekends over the next year.
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