Mr Bernie Cahill, executive chairman. First appointed in 1991. Appointed for a second five-year term in August 1996. He is chairman of Greencore, Irish Food Processors and a director of Murphy Brewery.

Mr Paddy Wright, appointed in 1992, now serving second term after his reappointment in December 1997. He is director and president and chief operations officer of the Jefferson Smurfit Group.

Ms Rose Hynes, appointed April 1997. She is general counsel of GPA Group and is a director of AerCo Limited.

Mr Jim O'Leary, appointed in January 1995. He is chief economist and head of fixed-interest research at Davy Stockbrokers.

Mr Des Richardson, appointed in November 1997. He is non-executive director of the Marlborough Group and a major Fianna Fail fund-raiser. He is a close friend of the Taoiseach.

Mrs Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, appointed in December 1998. A former minister, she is currently a director of the Ryan Hotel Group and a columnist with The Irish Times.

Mr Chris Wall, appointed in December 1998. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern's former election agent and long-time friend.

Dr John Keane, appointed in December 1998. He is a consultant ophthalmic physician with the Midland Health Board.

Mr Aidan Dolan, appointed in 1994. He is a worker-director and is a ramp agent at Heathrow airport.

Ms Joan Loughnane, appointed in May 1998. She is a worker director and a member of an Aer Lingus cabin crew.

Mr Willie Clarke, appointed in May 1998. He is a worker director and is an operative in the Dublin Cargo Terminal. He is joint co-ordinator of the Aer Lingus Partnership Framework process.

Another worker director is to be appointed.