Minister appoints non-executive directors to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust

Public Safety Minister Michael McGimpsey today announced the appointment of two non-executive directors to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust.

They are Mr Norman McKinley and Mr Seamus Shields. Mr McKinley’s appointment is effective from 8 April 2009 and Mr Shields’ appointment takes effect from 18 May 2009; both appointments are for a term of four years.

Notes to Editors:

• The mission of the NIAS HSC Trust is to ‘deliver effective and efficient care to people in need and improve the health and well-being of the community through the delivery of high quality ambulance services’.
• The Trust is run by a board consisting of a non-executive Chair, five non-executive directors and five executive directors.
• A non-executive director of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service HSC Trust receives annual remuneration of £5,845.
• Appointments to the NIAS HSC Trust are made with the approval of the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety. There are no specific qualifications for appointment. Each person is appointed to act in a personal capacity and not to represent any particular interest or group.
• The appointments were made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointment 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.
• 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. Mr McKinley declared he had not engaged in any political activity in the last five years. Mr Shields declared he had engaged in political activity for the SDLP in the last five years.
• Press enquiries to the DHSSPS on 028 9052 0579 / 028 9052 0505. Out of office hours contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.

Appointments

Mr Norman McKinley BSSc (Hons), lives in Belfast. A social worker, by profession, since 1997 Mr McKinley has been employed in a number of posts by the British Red Cross; where he is currently Director, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. He was formerly Chairman of the board of Shalom Care and UK Trustee of the Family Fund. He holds a Masters degree in both Social Work and in Business Administration. He holds no other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

Mr Seamus Shields lives in Sixmilecross, Omagh. Since 2005, Mr Shields has been a solicitor with John McGale, Kelly and Co Solicitors, Omagh. He was Principal of St Matthew’s Primary School, Ballygawley from 1984 to 2000 and has been an elected member of Omagh District Council since 1989. He currently serves as member of the Voluntary Transition Committee which is preparing for the amalgamation of Omagh and Fermanagh District Councils under the Review of Public Administration for which service he receives an allowance of £2,700 per annum. He is a member of the Management Committee of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium for which he receives travel and subsistence expenses and a member of the board of governors of Dean Maguirc College, Carrickmore. He has engaged in political activity for the SDLP in the last five years.