Belfast Harbour Commissioner appointed

Councillor Cathal Mullaghan of Belfast City Council has been appointed to the Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy welcomed the appointment and said: "The appointment of Councillor Mullaghan, who joins Belfast City Councillors David Browne, Danny Lavery and David Rodway on the board of Belfast Harbour Commissioners, allows the electorate of Belfast to continue to have an important voice on the board of the Harbour Commissioners."

The Minister added: "I wish to thank the outgoing member, Councillor Patrick Convery, who made a valuable contribution to the work of the board and I wish him well for the future."

Notes to editors:

1. Belfast Harbour Commissioners are responsible for the improvement, maintenance and management of the Port of Belfast and for the facilities within it. Board members currently receive remuneration of £12,750 per annum.
2. Under the Belfast Harbour Order (NI) 2002 the board of Belfast Harbour Commissioners consists of not less than 10 and not more than 15 members. A maximum of four Commissioners shall be members of Belfast City Council.
3. Councillor Convery stepped down from the board in July 2010.
4. Councillor Cathal Mullaghan was nominated by Belfast City Council to replace Cllr Convery. A member of the Social and Democratic Labour Party, he was elected Belfast City Council to represent the Castle area in May 2005. As a member of the Council he also sits on various bodies including the NI Local Government Association, and Belfast and Education and Library Board. He is a member of various committees on the Council including the Development committee and Town Planning Committee.
5. The process of appointing members to the board of Belfast Harbour Commissioners is carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.