He is the first person to hold the position.
An Offaly man has been named the designated candidate for the Presidency of an EU advisory group.
Seamus Boland is currently serving a second term as President of the Civil Society Organisations' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee.
He will be put forward for the role as the President of the EESC in October next year, making him the first Irish person to hold the position.
The Ballycumber man is also the CEO of Irish Rural Link - he says he will bring the voice of civil society into the EU:
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