Mackin quits top FF post for Harvard as Dukes gets PR job

FIANNA Fáil general secretary Martin Mackin is quitting his job to take up a study fellowship at Harvard University in the USA.

Also moving on to pastures new is former Fine Gael TD Alan Dukes who is to take up a post with public relations firm Wilson Hartnell.

The former FG leader who lost his Kildare South seat in the last election has quit active politics and has also recently taken a part-time job as director of the think-tank, the Institute of European Affairs.

Mr Mackin, 38, and originally from Dundalk, Co Louth, worked with the party for almost a decade and was appointed its top administrator in 1997.

He was regarded as a key member of the inner circle who masterminded several successes including election victory last May. Last night, Mr Mackin said he was leaving because he felt it was a good time to move on.

“I have worked very intensively especially since taking over as general secretary. But now I think it is time to do something different,” he said.

The study fellowship in politics and government will last three months.

Mr Dukes, 57, is a former economist and EU lobbyist for the Irish Farmers Association, He was first elected to the Dáil in 1981 and held ministerial portfolios in Agriculture, Finance, Justice and Transport, leading the FG party from 1987 to 1990.

He replaces Fergus Finlay at Wilson Hartnell. Mr Finlay has gone to work as a key adviser to Labour leader Pat Rabbitte.