The secretary general at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Padraic MacKernan, has decided to relinquish his post later this year, writes Deaglan de Breadun. It is expected he will be appointed to one of a number of senior ambassadorships due to be filled in the summer.
Prior to becoming secretary general in 1995, he served as head of the Irish mission to the European Communities in Brussels and before that as Ambassador to the US.
From 1980 to 85 he was the Department's political director.