ESB chairman Tadgh O'Donoghue is set to retire at the end of January after serving a seven-year term, writes Barry O'Halloran.

Mr O'Donoghue announced yesterday that he has told Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan that he intends to retire as chairman of the State-owned power company on January 22nd.

He took up the job in January 2001. In common with secretaries general of Government departments, executives and chairmen of State companies serve seven-year terms.

Mr O'Donoghue, a former senior partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers who has served on several State boards, said yesterday that this would be an appropriate time for him to retire.

"I have now completed 20 years on State boards, including the Higher Education Authority, Aer Rianta, chairman of Bord Iascaigh Mhara and currently chairman of ESB," he said.

Mr O'Donoghue leaves as the electricity company faces into a potentially turbulent time on several fronts.