CIE has accepted that it did receive a letter from the Department of Public Enterprise informing the group that the Government had decided to reappoint its chief executive, Mr Michael McDonnell, and chief financial officer, Mr Jim Cullen, to its board.
However, a spokesman said that Mr McDonnell and Mr Cullen had yet to receive formal letters of appointment from the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke.
A spokesman for Ms O'Rourke said that the letters would be sent to Mr McDonnell and Mr Cullen once CIE had furnished certain details relating to their contracts of employment to the Department. He pointed out that the Government's decision on February 1st to reappoint Mr McDonnell and Mr Cullen was reported in Iris Oifigiul.
CIE's secretary, Ms Geraldine Finucane, received a letter from the Department, dated February 3rd, informing the transport group of the appointments, a CIE spokesman said. Ms Finucane subsequently informed the then chairman of the group, Mr Brian Joyce, of the Government's decision, he said.
Conflict over the reappointments arose on Tuesday after Mr Joyce resigned as CIE chairman.
While Ms O'Rourke insisted that the Government had reappointed Mr McDonnell and Mr Cullen to the board, CIE was unable to confirm this, stating that neither Mr McDonnell nor Mr Cullen had been informed of the decision.
Ms O'Rourke's spokesman said that the reappointments were effective for a year. Mr McDonnell's and Mr Cullen's previous terms on the board lapsed on December 22nd.
