IT HAS had a relatively quiet eight months since its launch, but lobby group Property Industry Ireland (PII) might be about to crank up its activities.
Finola McDonnell, head of public affairs at employers’ group Irish Business Employers Confederation (Ibec), has just been selected as the PII’s first full-time director.
She takes takes over from Ronan King, the former BDO partner who has filled the role on an interim basis since launch.
The apple isn’t falling far from the tree, so to speak, as PII has also just signed up as an affiliate of Ibec.
Launched last July with former IDA Ireland boss Kieran McGowan as its chairman, PII has lofty aspirations of playing a role in getting the industry back on its feet.
It has signed up about 70 members so far – a mix of developers, architects, estate agents, financiers, contractors and engineers – who pay up to €5,000 a pop for membership.
McDonnell will be charged with framing some policy initiatives to help rouse the slumbering sector.
Her LinkedIn entry says she speaks French and German, which should prove useful when lobbying the EU’s Big Two to ease up on the austerity measures.
