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Press Statement

Director General Appointment Announcement 2024

CSO press statement,

Appointment of new CSO Director General

Following a Top-Level Appointment Committee (TLAC) process, and nomination by the Taoiseach, President Micheal D. Higgins has appointed Jennifer Banim under Section 12(1) of the Statistics Act, 1993 as Director General of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) with effect from 31 May 2024.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the CSO and Ms Banim is the first female Director General of the CSO since it was established on 01 June 1949.

Ms Banim has been a member of the CSO’s Management Board since 2013 and before her appointment as Director General, was the Assistant Director General at the CSO responsible for Economic Statistics. Having joined the CSO as a Statistician in October 1991, Ms Banim has worked in a number of areas including Balance of Payments and Financial Statistics, Statistical Methodology, and Technology. Ms Banim is also currently co-chair of the Executive Board of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) High Level Group on the Modernisation of Statistics.

Ms Banim studied at Dublin City University, graduating in 1989 with a BSc in Applied Mathematical Sciences and recently completed a Diploma in Strategy Development and Innovation at University College Dublin’s Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

On her appointment as Director General of the CSO, Ms Banim said: “I am delighted to be taking on this important role as Director General of the CSO. The CSO is an independent and trusted source of insight and is an indispensable element in a democratic and informed society. Now in its 75th year, the CSO has established a strong connection with the Irish people based on our principles of impartiality, confidentiality, quality, and integrity. This trusted relationship is at the core of everything that we do, and I am looking forward to leading the CSO, and its engaged and committed staff, in the next phase of its service to the Irish people. I am excited about the developing opportunities being realised by the CSO’s evolving role including delivering greater insights through new data sources, providing more statistical services across the wider civil and public service, all in support of independent insight and informed decision making.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the significant contribution made by my predecessor Pádraig Dalton, who retired from the civil service this week. Throughout his distinguished career, Pádraig displayed leadership, strategic vision, and professional insight. Pádraig’s commitment to expanding the reach of the CSO’s insights to the widest possible audience is a testament to his belief in the value of official statistics and the public’s right to live in an informed society. Pádraig’s leadership and collaboration on statistical matters at an international level, including through the United Nations and Eurostat, is widely acknowledged and he is held in very high esteem. On behalf of the CSO, I wish to congratulate him on his many achievements and wish him the very best for the future.”

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