Green Party appoint press man Downing to PR post

Journalist John Downing is to become the Green Party's deputy government press secretary, the party announced today.

Fifty-year-old Downing was until recently political correspondent with the Irish Daily Star. Prior to that he was political editor of the Irish Examiner, and European editor of the Irish Independent reporting from Brussels from 1989 to 1999.

He has also worked on the staff of the Irish Press, The Kerryman and the Limerick Echo.

A native of Limerick city, Mr Downing is married to journalist Bethan Kilfoil and they have two children.