MR Sean FitzPatrick, chief executive of Anglo-Irish Bank, is to be appointed to the board of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA). He will replace Mr Jim Lacey, the former chief executive of National Irish Bank, who resigned his State board positions in the wake of the controversy surrounding parts of NIB's operations. While no formal announcement has been made - and a number of other prominent candidates have been tipped for the position - Mr FitzPatrick will be confirmed shortly as the latest addition to the eight person board, which is charged with overseeing the operations of the DDDA and its plan to develop the docklands area. The board, which is appointed by the Minister for the Enviroment, meets monthly, while a 25-person council including local councillors and representatives meets every two months. Both the council and the executive board are chaired by Mr Lar Bradshaw. The other members of the board are: Ms Mary Bergin, Prof P J Drudy, Mr John Egan, Mr Cyril Forbes, Mr John O'Connor and Ms Joan O'Connor.

The DDDA published its masterplan for the development of the docklands last year.