In February 2000 the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Síle de Valera, appointed Marie Donnelly, a leading socialite and charity fundraiser, to Chair a new board at IMMA. Shortly thereafter "she advised the then director, Declan McGonagle, that she was advertising his post." But because "after his first five years in the position, his contract had been renewed without the post being publicly advertised" McGonagle took legal action. In November 2000 Board members were informed that lawyers for McGonagle were applying to the High Court for an injunction restraining IMMA from publicly advertising the director's position.