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Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has announced that the Government today approved the appointment of Mr Niall Burgess to the post of Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Mr Burgess’ appointment takes effect from April 30 2014.

Niall Burgess has served as Director General of the Anglo Irish Division at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade since August 2010.

He was Consul General of Ireland in New York from May 2007. Prior to assuming that role, he was Director with responsibility for political affairs at the Anglo Irish Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs in the period leading up to the establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive in May 2007.

He has served with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Chicago, New York, Geneva and in Brussels with the Council Secretariat of the European Union.

Mr Burgess was born in Dublin and trained initially as an archaeologist. He is married to Marie Morgan and they have two children.

The Tánaiste congratulated Mr Burgess on his appointment:

Since my appointment, I have worked closely with Niall on critical issues relating to Northern Ireland and our relationship with the US. I very much appreciate his knowledge, experience and commitment to the Department and Ireland more broadly. I am looking forward to working with him in his new capacity as Secretary General and I wish him every success in the role.

Mr Burgess will succeed Mr David Cooney, who completes his term as Secretary General on April 29, 2014.

The Tánaiste paid tribute to Mr Cooney:

I have greatly appreciated the invaluable advice and support of David Cooney during my time in office. He is an exceptional public servant, who has demonstrated unfailing commitment to Ireland throughout his career at the Department.