PRESIDENT Michael D. Higgins has appointed a Co Down lecturer to the Council of State.
Dr Johnston McMaster is one of seven people appointed to the body by the president to help advise him in the exercise of many of his reserve powers.
A lecturer and co-ordinator of the Education for Reconciliation programme at the Irish School of Ecumenics in Belfast, Dr McMaster has been involved in the development of a community education programme for Northern Ireland and the border counties.