Former CIÉ group chief executive Mr Michael McDonnell died today aged 59.
The Board of CIÉ expressed regret at the news and have cancelled a Board meeting scheduled for tomorrow as a mark of respect to Mr McDonnell who retired from the company in February this year.
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Former CIE chief
executive, Mr Michael McDonnell |
He is survived by his wife Noreen and their three children.
Prior to joining CIÉ, Mr McDonnell was assistant secretary in the then Department of Transport with responsibility for transport and aviation.
During his five years as Director General for Civil Aviation, Mr McDonnell negotiated bilateral air agreements, including the re-negotiation of the Ireland/USA Air Agreement.
Mr McDonnell was also a Government appointed Director of four State Boards (Aer Lingus, B&I, Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited (SFADCO), and Shannon Maritime Developments Ltd).
In February, Mr McDonnell retired from CIÉ after securing a severance package worth more than £420,000 (euro 533,672).
The severance package involved the settlement of a High Court action Mr McDonnell took against the CIÉ group last year to increase his salary from £100,000 to about £190,000.
Mr McDonnell was appointed chief executive in May 1995 by then Minister for Public Enterprise Mr Michael Lowry.
During his term of office, he was responsible for delivery of the current Government approved public transport programme under the National Development Plan.
Mr McDonnell earned a Masters Degree in Economic Science and Management Accounting from UCD and a Diploma in Financial Programming and Management from the I.M.F., Washington.
He began his career working with Dublin Corporation for six years and later spent 20 years in the Department of Finance, mainly as an economist and working on relations with the social partners.