Revenue Commissioners chairwoman Josephine Feehily’s term of appointment has been extended by a year following agreement at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

She will also head up the World Customs Organisation.

A Government spokesman said he believed the decision to extend Ms Feehily’s term was taken because the State’s presidency of the European Union next year would involve a number of tax matters.

“It’s as well to extend it rather than having somebody coming new into the job early in that process,” he said.

Ms Feehily was appointed to the position in March 2008 by then tánaiste and minister for finance Brian Cowen after Frank Daly’s retirement. The normal term is five years. A native of Clarina, Co Limerick, Ms Feehily is in her mid-50s.

A career public servant, she previously worked in the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Pensions Board, and served as a member of the Labour Relations Commission.

She joined Revenue in 1993.