Re-appointment of six non-executive members to the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority

The Minister for Health has re-appointed six non-executive members to the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) for a further four year term.

The people who have been re-appointed by the Minister, Michael McGimpsey, are Dr Richard Adams, Mrs Lilian Jennett, Mr Allen McCartney, Dr Connor Mulholland, Mr Colin Reid and Mr Austin Smith with effect from 1 January 2009.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) is the independent body responsible for monitoring and inspecting the availability and quality of health and social care services in Northern Ireland, and encouraging improvements in the quality of those services.

2. The board of the RQIA consists of a non-executive Chair and 12 non-executive members.

3. Non-executive members of RQIA receive annual remuneration of £5,845.

4. The appointments were made with the approval of the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety. There are no specific qualifications for appointment.

5. The appointments were made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointment for Northern Ireland.

6. 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. Dr Connor Mulholland declared he had engaged in some political activity in the last five years.

7. RE-APPOINTMENTS

Dr Richard Adams BSc PhD, lives in Belfast. Until his retirement in October 2003 he was the Chief Executive of the Forensic Science (NI) Agency. He was board member and latterly chairman of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes. He was initially appointed to the board of the RQIA from 1 January 2005, for a four-year period. Dr Adams does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

Mrs Lilian Jennett BA, lives in Richhill, Co. Armagh. She holds a BA Honours in Social Sciences. She currently is employed on a part-time basis by the Department of Social Development. Mrs Jennett is as a member of the Independent Monitoring Board for Maghaberry Prison and Chair of the Council of Independent Monitoring Boards Northern Ireland, for which she receives expenses. She was initially appointed to the board of the RQIA from 1 January 2005, for a four-year period. Mrs Jennett has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

Mr Allen McCartney LM MSc BSc CEng FIET, lives in Belfast. He is a self-employed Business Consultant having formerly held senior management positions within Northern Ireland Electricity. He is also a Lay Magistrate and an Independent Board Member of the Department for Regional Development. He is involved, in a voluntary capacity, as a member on the board of the East Belfast Mission. He was initially appointed to the board of the RQIA from 1 January 2005, for a four-year period. Mr McCartney does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

Dr Connor Mulholland FRCP(E) FESC, lives in Belfast. Until his retirement in 2003 he had been employed for over twenty years as a Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist by the Royal Hospitals Group. From September 2003 he has been self-employed, working as a medical management trainer. He is currently involved in Outreach social work for refugees and homeless with the Fitzroy Church. He was initially appointed to the board of the RQIA from 1 January 2005, for a four-year period. Dr Mulholland does not hold any other public appointments. He is a member of the Alliance Party and has carried out some political activity on behalf of the Party over the past five years.

Mr Colin Reid BA (Hons) MSW Cert Law, lives in Hillsborough, Co. Down. Since 1999, he has been employed by the NSPCC, and is currently their Policy and Public Affairs Manager. He is a social worker by profession and represents NSPCC on the Strategic Management Board of Public Protection Arrangements for Northern Ireland. He was initially appointed to the board of the RQIA from 1 January 2005, for a four-year period. Mr Reid does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

Mr Austin Smith FCIPD, lives in Londonderry. Until his retirement at the end of 2004 he worked for Dupont Ltd, having held a number of management positions with the Company in Northern Ireland, England, Switzerland and latterly the Netherlands where he was employed as Global Director of Human Resources. He was initially appointed to the RQIA from 1 January 2005, for a four-year period. Mr Smith does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

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