The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety today announced that the Minister, Michael McGimpsey, has appointed Mr Jim Lennon as Chair of the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service Agency (NIBTSA). The appointment, for a term of four years, will take effect from 1 August 2007.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The overall aim of NIBTSA is to fully supply the needs of hospital and clinical units in Northern Ireland with safe and effective blood and blood products and other related services. The Health and Social Care Trusts are the Agency’s major customers.
- The Agency is run by a board consisting of a non-executive Chair, two non-executive members and the Chief Executive.
- The Chair of the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service Agency receives annual remuneration of £6,609.
- Appointments to the Agency 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 appointment was 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 appointment 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 Lennon declared that he had engaged in some political activity in the last five years.
Appointment
Mr James (Jim) Lennon MBA lives in Derrynoose. He is Deputy Director of Corporate & Student Services at the Armagh College of Further & Higher Education. Mr Lennon is also Chair of Derrynoose Farming Group Ltd and a Director of Armagh Business Centre. He is the current Company Secretary of Derrynoose Community Development Association Ltd. Mr Lennon was a non-executive director of Armagh & Dungannon HSS Trust for six years until March 2007. He holds no other public appointments and has engaged in political activity for the SDLP in the last five years.
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