logo
Aviva chair appointed president of the Institute of Directors

Aviva chair appointed president of the Institute of Directors

Irish Times28-05-2025

Aviva Life and Pensions chairwoman Helen Nolan has been appointed president of the Institute of Directors (IoD).
IoD, which is the membership body for directors and business leaders, made the announcement at its annual general meeting on Tuesday.
Ms Nolan replaces John Reynolds who has held the position for the last two years.
Ms Nolan is also a non-executive director of US-listed fresh produce company Dole and of Companjon Insurance, where she chairs the audit committee.
READ MORE
A KPMG-trained chartered accountant, she has held several senior roles with Bank of Ireland, including group secretary, group chief internal auditor, and divisional finance officer for the capital markets division.
'As the commitment of being a director and business leader evolves and expands, with technological advances driving transformational changes in businesses, IoD will be there to support the needs and concerns of its members,' said Ms Nolan.
'Our ambition is for Ireland to be considered an exemplar of corporate governance. We will continue to instil stakeholder trust and confidence in organisations by educating, informing, and supporting directors and business leaders.
'I would also like to acknowledge former president John Reynolds for his leadership and commitment to IoD Ireland over the last two years.
'I look forward to working with the IoD executive and council in supporting our members while we deliver what directors need to lead in times of ceaseless change.
'By championing innovation, lifelong learning, and good governance we can help shape a dynamic future of Irish business from the inside out.'
Mr Reynolds said: 'I would like to express my appreciation of the work and commitment of each of the members of our council and executive during my tenure as president.
'I am delighted to pass on the baton to Helen and watch IoD Ireland continue to go from strength to strength.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to deliver annual Michael Collins address at Béal na Bláth
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to deliver annual Michael Collins address at Béal na Bláth

Irish Times

timean hour ago

  • Irish Times

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to deliver annual Michael Collins address at Béal na Bláth

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will deliver the oration at Béal na Bláth later this summer to mark the 103rd anniversary of the death of Gen Michael Collins in the Civil War. The event takes place this year on Sunday August 24th. 'Minister Carroll MacNeill has a deep understanding of Irish history, and we very much look forward to hearing what she will have to say in August,' said Béal na Bláth commemoration committee chairman Senator Garret Kelleher. Ms Carroll MacNeill said it was an honour to have been asked to speak at this year's commemoration. READ MORE 'This significant event allows us to remember and honour the legacy of Michael Collins, whose vision, leadership and unwavering dedication to our country and its people continue to inspire us all,' said Ms Carroll MacNeill, the first woman to give the oration since Heather Humphreys in 2021. 'His legacy of leadership and dedication to public service is something I see as I visit our healthcare community around the country and their unwavering dedication to caring for people. I am really looking forward to speaking at the commemoration and reflecting on Collins's legacy and values.' [ Jennifer Carroll MacNeill in the spotlight as health controversies intensify Opens in new window ] Ms Carroll MacNeill said she had brought her then seven-year-old son James to the 2022 commemoration and she was looking forward to bringing him back to Béal na Bláth because of his family links to Collins. She said James's great-grandfather, Capt Hugo MacNeill, accepted the surrender of Victoria Barracks in Cork from the British on behalf of Collins and the National Army on May 18th, 1922. The barracks was subsequently renamed Collins Barracks in honour of the west Cork man. The first chief of staff of the National Army, Collins was killed in an ambush by a party of anti-Treaty IRA men at Béal na Bláth on August 22nd, 1922, as he returned with a party of National Army troops from inspecting garrisons in his native west Cork.

Some local authorities inspecting ‘just 10%' of new builds for compliance with safety regulations
Some local authorities inspecting ‘just 10%' of new builds for compliance with safety regulations

Irish Times

timean hour ago

  • Irish Times

Some local authorities inspecting ‘just 10%' of new builds for compliance with safety regulations

Enforcement of building safety regulations in Ireland is a 'key weakness', with inspections of new developments varying among local authorities, some of whom inspect 'virtually none', a construction conference has heard. The Construction Bar Association annual conference heard on Friday that local authorities require greater resources to ensure compliance with building safety regulations. Deirdre Ní Fhloinn, a barrister specialising in construction law, said statistics of historical building defects in Ireland do not suggest there were a 'few bad eggs in the industry' but instead, there was a 'systemic problem'. She cited a 2022 report that found that up to 100,000 of the 125,000 apartments built between 1991 and 2013 had defects concerning fire safety, water ingress issues or structural safety issues. READ MORE The total cost of repairing the homes is estimated to be in the billions, with Ms Ní Fhloinn saying the taxpayer has become the 'insurer of last resort for building defects'. Noting that rules and regulations were adequate at the time of their construction, Ms Ní Fhloinn said enforcement was a 'huge part' of the problem. Speaking on the value of 'robust regulation', she welcomed the fact that Government approval has been received to draft a general scheme to establish a Building Standards Regulatory Authority. She said about a quarter of new buildings are being inspected by local authorities, adding that this figure itself is inflated by larger authorities that inspect upwards of 70 to 80 per cent of new buildings. On the other hand, some authorities are inspecting 'virtually none', she said. Property developer Michael O'Flynn, meanwhile, said building control regulations in Ireland have 'great standards' but agreed enforcement of the regulations was a 'key weakness'. Inspection levels vary significantly among local authorities, he said, with some inspecting just 10 per cent of new buildings. 'There is no huge shortage of existing regulation, the question is, is it happening? Are people doing what they're supposed to be doing?' 'Local authorities are inspecting, unfortunately, a very low percentage. There has to be a consistent standard,' he said, adding that resourcing and upskilling is a must to ensure adequate enforcement. Mr O'Flynn added that there is currently no balance between regulation and planning, saying the Irish planning system was suffering from an 'existing enormous backlog'. He cited 2023 figures in which 22,000 housing planning applications were caught in a backlog in An Bord Pleanála , which had an average waiting time of 79 weeks. He described waiting times generally as 'quite frightening' and a 'really serious issue'. 'Our planning system is in a very bad place,' he said. 'We can't ignore these things, because if we do, we will continue to fail a generation of people who are unable to buy homes,' he said.

EU may be finally approaching ‘point of departure' on Gaza war
EU may be finally approaching ‘point of departure' on Gaza war

Irish Times

time3 hours ago

  • Irish Times

EU may be finally approaching ‘point of departure' on Gaza war

After 20 months of war that has seen tens of thousands of Palestinians killed, large parts of Gaza reduced to rubble and continued warnings about dire humanitarian conditions and possible famine, the European Union may finally be approaching a 'point of departure' in its relations with Israel , several diplomats say. Throughout Israel's military campaign in Gaza the response of the EU to the conflict has been defined by its inability to agree on a response. For a long period Spain and Ireland, as well as Belgium and Slovenia at times, were lonely outliers calling for the bloc to use what leverage it has to hold Israel accountable for the mounting deaths of Palestinian civilians. More than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel's invasion of Gaza, which followed the October 7th, 2023 attacks by Hamas militants in southern Israel. READ MORE In a sign the tide of opinion had begun to shift against Israel, some 17 of the EU's 27 states last month backed a review into whether Israel's actions in Gaza had breached human rights commitments it signed up to, as part of an EU-Israel association agreement. The agreement governing relations between the two has been in place since 2000. Crucially, it includes a free trade deal, which is economically valuable to Israel, given the EU is its biggest trading partner. The EU review said evidence 'indicates' Israel's actions in Gaza had breached its human rights obligations under the deal. Foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels on Monday to discuss the findings. One big question mark is how Israel's war with Iran will shift the dynamics in the room when the doors close behind the ministers. The Coalition of states who favour tougher consequences for Israel has grown to include Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, Portugal and the Netherlands . The push to order a review of the EU-Israel deal was led by the Dutch, a traditional ally of Israel. The fact the move came from a government who previously sat in the middle ground of the debate probably convinced others to shift position. One of the union's two big powers, France, was also on board. Just because 17 capitals voted in favour of a review taking place does not mean they will all agree about what should be done now. 'This group is not homogenous, there are those who would wish to see more immediate measures taken [and] those who still want to give Israel a chance to act,' one diplomat involved in negotiations said. 'It is clear that the grouping of 17 member states is not one big bloc ... I'm hopeful that most of that group will stay together,' another diplomat said. Behind the scenes the Dutch are trying to keep the wide level of support intact, to secure a voting majority in support of some EU action to put pressure on Israel. 'We don't expect any decisions on Monday,' one EU diplomat said of the foreign ministers meeting. Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign affairs chief who chairs the meetings, will take soundings from the room about the findings of the review. It is likely Ms Kallas will be asked to go away and prepare possible options to put on the table at the next meeting of foreign ministers on July 15th, several diplomatic sources said. A group of nine states recently suggested the EU needs to do more to cut off trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and other occupied Palestinian territories. In a separate June 10th letter to Ms Kallas, the Swedish government said the EU should 'urgently' adopt sanctions targeting Israeli ministers who promote illegal settlements. There had been signs that even Germany, one of Israel's biggest defenders, might be poised to change its position. That was before the fighting between Israel and Iran escalated so significantly. Comments from German chancellor Friedrich Merz since then suggest the government is rowing in behind Israel, lowering the chances of Berlin supporting any EU penalties or sanction. Hungary and the Czech Republic have consistently opposed the EU taking against Israel. That means suspending the EU-Israel agreement in full is off the table, given such a move would require the unanimous backing of all 27 states. Suspending elements of the deal may only require a majority. One EU diplomat speculated recent strikes in Iran, which Israel justified as necessary to prevent Tehran developing nuclear weapons, should not divert the world's attention from the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The EU should be careful not to 'fall into the trap' and totally shift its focus, the diplomat said. Agnes Bertrand Sanz of aid charity Oxfam said the cost of inaction by the EU would be measured in lives. 'Homes flattened, hospitals destroyed and looming famine ... There is no time for more debate,' she said. The cumbersome process of agreeing on a common foreign policy position in a union of 27 governments, means any EU decision to sanction Israel – if a decision is taken – probably remains weeks or even months away.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store