USAID Administrator Shah Announces Appointments to the International Fund for Ireland

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 21st, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced his appointments of Daniel Hynes and Stella O'Leary as U.S. Observer and Alternate U.S. Observer, respectively, to the International Fund for Ireland (IFI).

The International Fund for Ireland was formally established as an independent entity in December 1986 pursuant to an agreement between the Governments of the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland.  The Fund's objectives further the long-standing U.S. foreign policy objective of a sustainable peace in Northern Ireland and the six border countries of Ireland.  

Hynes will serve as the U.S. Government's official observer at all meetings of the Board of Directors of the Fund. O'Leary will serve in that capacity at all meetings of the Board of Directors of the Fund in which the U.S. Observer does not participate.

Hynes was first elected Illinois Comptroller on November 3, 1998.  Among his other measures as Comptroller, was to reform the Local Government Division of his office, increasing the percentage of compliance from Illinois's local government units in financial reporting from 65 to 95 percent.  He was elected to a second term in 2002 and a third in 2006.  He also served as a health care attorney at the Chicago law firm of Hogan, Marren and McCahill, Ltd.  He attended the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in economics and computer applications.  He received his Juris Doctor degree with honors from Loyola University Chicago's School of Law.

O'Leary founded Irish American Democrats in 1996 to promote peace, justice, and prosperity in Ireland.  She currently serves as the President of the organization. She graduated from University College, Dublin, Ireland with degrees in Arts and Library Science.  With a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, she co-authored Classical Scholarship: An Annotated Bibliography.

Dr. Shah appreciates Mr. Hynes and Ms. O'Leary's willingness to serve the United States and to continue the positive working relationship with the IFI to promote reconciliation and prosperity in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

For more information visit www.usaid.gov.

SOURCE United States Agency for International Development