Minister appoints non-executive directors to the new Public Health Agency

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey today announced the appointment of seven non-executive directors to the new Public Health Agency.

They are:

• Local Government Representative Members Councillor Cathal Mullaghan and Councillor Stephen Nicholl;
• Trade Union Representative Member, Mr Thomas Mahaffy;
• Lay members, Mrs Julie Erskine, Dr Jeremy Harbison and Ms Miriam Karp and
• Member from a social care background, Mr Ronnie Orr.

The appointments are for the period from 7 April 2009 to 6 April 2013 with the exception of Dr Jeremy Harbison, whose appointment is for the period from 29 April 2009 to 28 April 2013.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Review of Public Administration was launched by the Northern Ireland Executive in June 2002 to deliver wide ranging and comprehensive modernisation and reform across the public sector.

2. For Health and Social Care Services in Northern Ireland, there were two major phases involved in the Review of Public Administration, the first being the establishment of the five new integrated Health and Social Care Trusts and the retention of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Trust with effect from 1 April 2007. The second phase, following consultation, included the Minister’s decision to establish the new Public Health Agency which will incorporate and build on the work previously undertaken by the Health Promotion Agency, (which ceased to exist from 1 April 2009) but which will have wider responsibility for health protection and screening and health improvement and development to improve overall public health and address existing health inequalities.

3. Role of the Public Health Agency:

• The Public Health Agency (PHA) will be an integral part of the Health and Social Care system and will drive the public health and social well-being agenda. It will bring together the wide range of existing public health functions and give a renewed, enhanced and sustained focus to achieving key public health goals. The broad functions of the agency will be health improvement; health protection; and provision of appropriate professional input to the commissioning role of the Health and Social Care Board.
• The board of the PHA is made up of four executive directors, including the chief executive, a non-executive chair and seven non-executive directors. The non-executive directors include a member from a Social Care background, a Trade Union Representative Member, two Local Government Representative Members and three Lay Members.

4. Non-executive directors of the Public Health Agency receive annual remuneration of £8,827 for a time commitment of five days per month.

5. Appointments to the Public Health Agency are made with the approval of the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

6. These appointments were made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland. A selection panel, which included an independent assessor, as required under the Commissioner’s Code, considered the suitability of all candidates. The final decision on the appointments rested with the Minister.

7. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published. With the exception of Cllr Cathal Mullaghan and Mr Stephen McBride, who declared they had engaged in political activity in the last five years, the remaining appointees declared they had not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

8. Pen pictures:

• Mrs Julie Erskine MSc, Chartered FCIPD, BA (Hons) lives in Carrickfergus. Mrs Erskine has worked in the healthcare service industry for over 25 years. She held the position of Operations Director within a Belfast-based private healthcare company, having also worked as Support Services Director for the same company. Mrs Erskine is currently a member of the NI Social Care Council for which she receives £6,000 per annum. She has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
• Dr Jeremy Harbison, lives in Belfast. Dr Harbison retired in 2001 from his career in NI Civil Service having held various posts at Deputy Secretary level in the former DHSS, DOE and DSD. He is currently a member of the Governing Body of the University of Ulster, a Trustee of the Community Foundation for NI, and an Independent policy consultant. He is currently Chair of the NI Social Care Council for which he receives £17, 060 per annum and Commissioner of the NI Legal Services Commission for which he receives £10,528 per annum. He has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
• Ms Miriam Karp MSc BA (Hons) lives in Belfast. Ms Karp is a self employed director of her own consultancy business designing and delivering professional and personal development training, management and skills training programmes, seminars and training packages. She is a member of the Fitness to Practice Statutory Committee of the NI Pharmaceutical Society, an Associate Lecturer of the Open University, and a consultant for Arthritis Care UK and the National Cancer Screening Programme in Ireland. Ms Karp holds a Certificate in Further and Higher Education. She is currently a member of the NI Social Care Council for which she receives £6,000 per annum, a member of the General Teaching Council for which she receives travel and subsistence allowances and a governor of Rosetta Primary School. She has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
• Mr Thomas Mahaffy MSc BA (Hons) lives in Newtownards. He is employed by UNISON as a Policy Officer with responsibility for social policy issues within NI. Lead role in equality, human rights, health inequalities and developing partnership working with local trusts and other public bodies on a local and international basis. He holds a certificate in Academic legal studies. He holds no other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
• Councillor Cathal Mullaghan BSc lives in Belfast. He is a locally elected representative member of Belfast City Council and former Marketing Director of NI Self Catering Holiday Association. He is currently appointed as a member of Belfast Education and Library Board for which he receives attendance or financial loss allowance and travel and subsistence. He was formerly a member of the Eastern Health and Social Services Council until 31 March 2009. He also sits on the NI Local Government Association (NILGA) executive for which he receives an attendance allowance and travel expenses. He has engaged in political activity for the SDLP in the last five years.
• Councillor Stephen Nicholl BSc (Open) lives in Antrim. Mr Nicholl is a locally elected representative member of Antrim Borough Council. He is employed as a Project Manager with the New Lodge Duncairn Community Health Partnership. He was formerly appointed as a Director of the Rural Development Council. He holds no other public appointments and has engaged in political activity for the UUP in the last five years.
• Mr Ronnie Orr, BA lives in Belfast. He formerly worked as a Social Services Officer until 31 March 2009, DHSSPS, providing policy advice to DHSSPS, NIO, NGPBs and voluntary agencies on Criminal Justice and Child Care. He is currently appointed as a member of the Independent Monitoring Board for the Young Offenders Centre and Women’s Prison at Hydebank for which he receives travel and subsistence allowances and is a volunteer with the Knock Child Contact Centre, the Taking Care/Child Protection Committee in the Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Orphan and Children’s Society. He has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

9. Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 02890 520074, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.