Mrs Sarah Havlin, Mr Colm Bradley and Mr Richard Hill will serve for a period of three years commencing on 1 January 2008.
Commenting on the appointments Mr Dodds said: “The new members are joining the Consumer Council at a very challenging and exciting time. The wide range of skills and talents they are bringing to the Board will be of undoubted value to the Council as it pursues its aim of championing and safeguarding the interests of the consumers in Northern Ireland.
“I believe a strong consumer voice is good for business and good for the economy”.
Membership of the Consumer Council is not salaried but a fee of £99.35 per day is payable.
The Minister also announced the extension of the appointment of the Chairman, Mr Stephen Costello, MBE, for a further year also from 1 January 2008. Mr Costello had been reappointed by the then Minister, Angela Smith, MP, to a second term of 2 years which commenced on 1 January 2006. Mr Dodds said:
“I would like to acknowledge the efforts and commitment Mr Costello has already shown on behalf of Northern Ireland consumers. His experience and expertise in consumer issues will be of considerable benefit to the Council as it moves forward.
“I wish Mr Costello and his team every success with the important work that lies ahead.”
The new appointments and extension of Mr Costello’s appointment have been made in accordance with the Guidelines of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
The Chairman’s annual remuneration is currently £21,340.
Notes to Editors:
1. Mr Richard Hill BSc BD
Mr Hill is Minister of Garnerville Presbyterian Church, Belfast. He currently serves as Non-Executive Director of Society for the Orphans and Children of Ministers and Missionaries of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Ltd and is Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors of Knocknagoney Primary School. He is a former member of the BBC Audience Council for Northern Ireland and BBC Broadcasting Council for Northern Ireland.
Public Appointments Held
Mr Hill is Vice Chair of the Northern Ireland Screen Commission receiving £3,500 per annum plus travel and subsistence expenses.
Mr Colm Bradley
Mr Bradley is Director of Community Technical Aid (CTA). He served on the Local Government Taskforce Community Planning Working Group and DRD’s External Stakeholder Group on the Assessment of Regional Development Strategy. He is a former Chairperson of the North Belfast Partnership Board.
Public Appointments Held
Until recently he was a Board Member and Member of the Audit Committee and Community Committee of Laganside Corporation, remuneration £7,815 (which was paid to his employer).
Mrs Sarah Havlin LLB
Mrs Havlin is a Solicitor by profession. She is the SEELB representative on Board of Governors for Glenlola Collegiate School, Bangor and St Columbanus College Bangor. She has served as a Senior officer and Treasurer of The Belfast Solicitors’ Association and is currently a member of the Board of North Down and Ards Womens Aid NI.
No current public appointments
Steve Costello, MBE – Chairman
teve was appointed Chairman of the Consumer Council in January 2003. He is Chairman of the Republic of Ireland Government's National Consumer Agency and a Board member of Business in the Community Ireland. Until recently, he was Chair of the Board of Stranmillis University College (travel expenses only payable). Steve chaired the Education Minister's Advisory Group on the post primary review. He was a former Chair of the Northern Ireland Business Education Partnership and the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service. He was also an Executive and Council member of Dublin Chamber of Commerce.
Steve's career began in 1972 with Marks & Spencer where he held a number of assistant management appointments throughout England. He progressed through the company to become Chief Executive for Ireland and he retired in 2001.
2. The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, established in 1985, under the terms of the General Consumer Council (Northern Ireland) Order 1984, is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. The aims of the GCC are to:-
·promote and safeguard the interests of all consumers in Northern Ireland;
·campaign on behalf of consumers for the best possible standards of service and protection;
·undertake research and data collection;
·give advice and information and issue publications; and
·deal with individual complaints about passenger transport, coal, natural gas and electricity.
3. Under the provisions of the Order, the Board of the GCC shall consist of a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman and no more than 16 members. Current membership stands at 15 (Chairman, Deputy Chairman and 13 Members).
4. All appointments and reappointments 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.
5. None of the appointees carried out any political activity in the past five years.
6. For media enquiries please contact the DETI Press Office, telephone 028 9052 9297.
7. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
