Minister Mallon announces appointments of Belfast City Councillors to the Board of Belfast Harbour Commissioners
Date published:
Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon has announced the appointment of four Belfast City Councillors to the Board of Belfast Harbour Commissioners (BHC).
The Minister has appointed Councillor Ciaran Beattie to serve a second term. Councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown, Councillor Donal Lyons and Councillor Mal O’Hara have been appointed for a first term.
The Councillors were nominated by Belfast City Council and appointed following a selection process. The appointments take effect from 1 April 2020.
Minister Mallon said:
“I congratulate Councillors Beattie, McDonough-Brown, Lyons and O’Hara on their appointment to the Board of Belfast Harbour Commissioners. I am confident that their experience and knowledge of local issues will add significant value to the work of the Commissioners and to the development of Belfast Port and Estate in the years ahead."
The Minister also paid tribute to the outgoing Board Members, Alderman Frank McCoubrey and Councillor Copeland, saying:
“I would also thank Alderman Frank McCoubrey and Councillor Sonia Copeland for the valuable contribution they have made to BHC during their tenure.”
These appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland’s Code of Practice.
Notes to editors:
- Belfast Harbour Commissioners is a Public Trust Port established by legislation. The Commissioners have responsibility, under a series of Harbour Acts and Orders, for developing, maintaining and operating Belfast Port to the highest standards of efficiency, financial prudence, environmental awareness, safety and security to the benefit of all stakeholders. The Constitution of the Commissioners was established under Schedule 1 of the Belfast Harbour Order (Northern Ireland) 2002.
- The Belfast Harbour Commissioners currently have a membership of a Chair, an Executive Member and nine Non Executive Members and three Councillor Non-Executive Members. From the 1 April 2020, BHC will have four Councillors. The Non-Executive Members currently receive remuneration of £14,392 per annum.
- Councillors are appointed to the Board in line with the Belfast Harbour Order (Northern Ireland) 2002, and can only serve as a Commissioner if they remain a member of Council. The appointment term is up to a maximum of four years.
- Councillor Ciaran Beattie is a full time member of Belfast City Council and represents the Black Mountain Electoral Ward. He is a member of the Strategic Policy and Resource Committee and the City Growth and Regeneration Committee. Councillor Beattie served a first term appointment from 25 January 2015 to 31 March 2020.
- Councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown is a full time member of Belfast City Council and represents the Botanic Electoral Ward. He is a former Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast and sits on the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee. He holds no other current public appointments.
- Councillor Donal Lyons is a full time member of Belfast City Council and represents the Balmoral Electoral Ward. He is a member of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee and City Growth and Regeneration Committee. He is a former chair of the Planning and City Growth and Regeneration Committee, he is also Vice Chair of Libraries NI and a member of Belfast Local Commissioning Group.
- Councillor Mal O’Hara is a full time member of Belfast City Council and represents the Castle Electoral Ward. He is a member of the Planning Committee and the City Growth and Regeneration Committee. He holds no other current public appointments.
- All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. Ciaran Beattie has declared that he has undertaken political activity for Sinn Fein. Emmet McDonough-Brown has declared that he has undertaken political activity on behalf of the Alliance Party. Donal Lyons has declared that he has undertaken political activity for the Social Democrat and Labour Party. Mal O’Hara has declared that he has undertaken political activity on behalf of the Green Party.
- The Department for Infrastructure does not appoint board members automatically to a second term. All appointments are made through open competition.
- All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office on 028 9054 0007 or email: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer on 028 9037 8110.