20 November 2008 - Appointments to the Livestock and Meat Commission

Mrs Mary McCormack, Mr Kenneth Sharkey and Mr Phelim O’Neill have been appointed as new members and Mr Campbell Tweedie has been re-appointed for a second term. All of the appointments are effective from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011.

Confirming the new appointments the Minister said: “I was very impressed with the high number of quality applications received for these positions. This demonstrates the keen interest that there is within the red meat industry to ensure that the Commission makes an important contribution to its future viability. Important work is being progressed by the Red Meat Task Force and I believe that these new appointees will bring fresh ideas and a new perspective to the challenges which the industry faces.”

The Minister continued: “I am also pleased that Mr Tweedie, who has a wealth of experience, has agreed to serve for a second term. I wish to thank him for the important contribution which he has made to date and consider that extending his appointment to a second term is in the best interests of the livestock and livestock products industries.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Mrs McCormack is a university graduate with wide ranging experience of the agri-food industry including fulfilling a representational role and developing policy. She runs a mixed hill farm with dairy, suckler and beef enterprises. She is also Farm Liaison Officer with Camowen Partnership Carrickmore, a Member of Lakeland Dairies’ Producer Committee, Vice-Chair of the NI Agriculture Consultants Association, a member of Agri-Search Board of Trustees and a member of the Omagh District Council Local Action Group. Mrs McCormack holds no other public appointments and has not been involved in any political activity during the past five years.
2. Mr Sharkey is a progressive beef and sheep farmer and ex-President of the Ulster Farmers’ Union who has significant personal experience of the agri-food industry and related issues. This includes fulfilling a representational role, engagement with the different parts of the food supply chain and developing policy. He is also a Director of Countryside Services, Glenfarm Holdings and the NFU Mutual. Mr Sharkey holds no other public appointments and has not been involved in any political activity during the past five years.
3. Mr O’Neill, who holds an honours degree in law and an MA in Business Strategy, has wide experience and knowledge of the red meat processing sector. He commenced his career with Omagh Meats and from 1997 to 2005 he was the LMC Marketing and Communications Manager. Currently he is the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Meat Exporters’ Association. Mr O’Neill holds no other public appointments and has not been involved in any political activity during the past five years.
4. Mr Tweedie has extensive experience at senior management of the Northern Ireland agri-food industry, holds Directorships in several companies and is President of the Northern Ireland Meat Exporters’ Association. He pioneered the establishment of an international processing business which is at the cutting edge of developments in retail packaging and meeting the requirements of the multiple retailers in the United Kingdom. He is a partner in a large livestock farm and served on the LMC Board in the 1980s. Mr Tweedie is vice-Chairman of Safefood for which he receives a remuneration of £7,820 per annum. He has not been involved in any political activity during the last five years.
5. The above appointments are based on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.
6. The Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland, which was established in 1967, has the general duty of assisting the development of the livestock (cattle and sheep) and livestock products sectors of the Northern Ireland agri-food industry. It provides a range of services to producers and meat traders including market intelligence and promotion and beef and lamb carcase classification. It also administers the Farm Quality Assurance Scheme and market support arrangements for beef and lamb in Northern Ireland (the latter as agent of the Rural Payments Agency). It is currently spear-heading the work of the Red Meat Task Force.
7. The appointments are made under section 1of the Livestock Marketing Commission Act (Northern Ireland) 1967. The appointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner of Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Code of Practice.
8. The posts attract a remuneration of £6,355 per annum.
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