The death has taken place of Mr Declan Madden, a director of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC).
Mr Madden, who had been ill for some time, was appointed director of social affairs and specialist services on the establishment of IBEC in 1993, and contributed to its social policy document, "Social Policy in a Competitive Economy".
He also represented business interests on the National Economic and Social Forum, on the board of TEASTAS - the national authority responsible for certification of many education and training programmes - and on the Commission for the Status of Women. Mr Madden (40), who died at his home in Dublin on Monday, was also a member of the negotiating team in the series of national programmes drawn up since 1988.
Prior to that he had been a solicitor in the legal department of IBEC's predecessor, the Federated Union of Employers, before being appointed regional director for the west of Ireland, based in Galway.
He returned to Dublin as a director of the federation in 1989.
His funeral took place yesterday at St Seachnaill's Church, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath. His body will be cremated at a later stage with rites according to the Buddhist tradition, in line with his wishes.
