In a shocking announcement it has been revealed that the wife of former Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore has been given a major post within the education sector with a salary in the region €136,000, without going through the proper channels.
There is widespread outrage as Carol Hanney (Gilmore’s wife) has been appointed as CEO of the City of Dublin Education Board (CDETB), without going though the proper application process. The is also like to cause further controversy given the fact that Ms Hanney’s massive salary will coincide with the fact that former TD Gilmore will also be collecting a pension worth in the region of €2m.
Ms Hanney’s appointment comes as the current CEO Jacinta Stewart announced that she is retiring from the position at the end of the month. Reports say Ms Hanney was given the high paying position, even though it wasn’t advertised externally. That decision has angered one member of the board which confirmed the appointment, with him saying he is “furious”.
The angry named Councillor Andrew Keegan told reporters: “I don’t know the woman or whether she’s the best person for the job but there hasn’t been an open process.” However her appointment wasn’t questioned due to the fact no other members of the board made any objections.
Meanwhile the controversial appointment will be seen as a major boost to Ms Hanney’s career after she was previously the chief executive of Dun Laoghaire Vocational Education Committee (VEC).
Ms Hanney’s promotion to CEO, which officially take effect on March 1st, after the Department of Education revealed her appointment is the result of an agreement reached with the relevant trade union when 33 former VECs were merged into 16 ETBs.