Re-appointment of three non-executive members to the Northern Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Agency

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety today announced the re-appointment of three non-executive members to the Northern Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Agency (NIGALA) for a further term.

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey has re-appointed Dr Greg Kelly, Mrs Ann McMahon and Mr Alistair Steenson for a further four-year period with effect from 1 August 2009.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Northern Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Agency (NIGALA) was established in 1996 by the then Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) under powers contained in the Health and Personal Social Services (Special Agencies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990. The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (“the 1995 Order”) established the general principle that the welfare of the child would be the court’s paramount consideration in legal decisions involving children.

2. NIGALA’s role is to safeguard and promote the interests of children by providing independent social work investigations and advice to the Court in specified proceedings under the 1995 Order and in proceedings under the Adoption (NI) Order 1987 so as to ensure effective representation of children’s views and interests in care related and adoption proceedings.

3. The board of the Agency consists of a non-executive Chair, four non-executive members and an Executive Director directly manages NIGALA.

4. Non-executive members of NIGALA receive annual remuneration of £2,922.

5. The appointments were made with the approval of the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety. There are no specific qualifications for appointment. 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 Kelly, Mrs McMahon and Mr Steenson declared that they had not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

7. Pen Pictures:

Dr Greg Kelly BSc (Econ) MSSc PhD lives in Belfast. Dr Kelly is a qualified Social Worker who is presently senior lecturer (due to retire on 30 September 2009) in the School of Social Work, Queen’s University. He is currently Chair of the Social Work Advisory Committee for British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) and Chair of the Fostering Panel for Barnardos, NI. He is also involved in a local charity supporting street children in Bucharest and was formerly a member of the NI Social Care Council until September 2005. Dr Kelly was initially appointed to the NIGALA board for a four year term from 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2009. He does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activities in the last five years.

Mrs Ann McMahon LLB lives in Londonderry. Mrs McMahon is a qualified solicitor and is currently working as a solicitor in Derry. She is a member of the Regional Advisory Committee for Ulster Television and was previously a member of the viewer complaints council for the Independent Television Commission. She is currently a member of the Appeals Panel for the Legal Services Commission. Mrs McMahon was initially appointed to the NIGALA board for a four year term from 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2009. She does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activities in the last five years.

Mr Alistair Steenson CPFA, lives in Belfast. A Chartered Accountant by profession, Mr Steenson is currently employed as a Principal Consultant with the Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). Prior to working in CIPFA, Mr Steenson was a Management Accountant in the former Down Lisburn Health and Social Services Trust. Mr Steenson was initially appointed to the NIGALA board for a four year term from 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2009. He does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activities in the last five years.

8. Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0074, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.

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