O’Dowd appoints Councillors to the Drainage Council

1. The power to appoint members to the Drainage Council Board lies solely with the Minister for Infrastructure as stipulated under schedule 1 to the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 rather than the Department. 
2. The Department’s responsibilities include the management of flood risk. This involves undertaking watercourse and coastal flood management in a sustainable manner. The Drainage Council exists to perform a general scrutiny role in relation to the Department’s drainage functions and has a statutory duty to ensure uniformity of treatment on drainage issues throughout Northern Ireland. The Council’s membership is set out in legislation (Schedule 1 of the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973.
3. The Drainage Council Northern Ireland consists of 10 representatives from local Councils, two ex-officio members who are officials within the Department and one ‘specialist’ representative for each of the following: drainage; agriculture; fisheries; industry; conservation; and tourism.
4. The appointments are non-remunerated.
5. The Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. Pete Wray and Robert Irvine have declared that they have undertaken political activity on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party. Dermot Nicholl has declared that he has undertaken political activity on behalf of Sinn Fein.  Julie Middleton has declared that she has undertaken political activity on behalf of the Democratic Unionist Party.  Gareth Sharvin has declared that he has undertaken political activity on behalf of the Social Democratic and Labour Party All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.
6. The appointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Code of Practice.

7. Biographies

Robert Irvine

Robert has been an elected local District Councillor since 2001 and currently sits as a member of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council representing Enniskillen Ward. In his role as a councillor, he sits on various committees, notably the Planning Committee and the Local Development Plan Steering Group of which he has been chair since 2015. He has been a partner in R.J. Irvine, a quantity surveying and project management consultancy firm, since 1982. He currently is a Board member of the Public Health Agency for which he receives remuneration of £9,678 per annum.  He holds no other public appointments.

Julie Middleton

Julie has been an elected representative since May 2023 serving Derry City and Strabane District Council representing the Faughan Ward.  She has been a proactive member of the Business and Culture and Environment and Regeneration committees. Julie was appointed as a Commissioner of the Londonderry Port and Harbour this year and also serves on the Audit and Environmental and Health and Safety working groups for which she receives remuneration of £9,326 per annum. She has served on the board of RAPID and has recently been appointed to the board of City of Derry Airport, which is non-remunerated.  Julie is employed with the Foyle Down Syndrome Trust as the Mentor and Inclusion Officer.  She holds no other public appointments.

Dermot Nicholl

Dermot has served as a Councillor with Causeway Coast and Glens Council since 2014, representing the Benbradagh Ward.  He is a former Chair of Planning, Audit, Corporate Policy and Leisure & Development Committees.  He has seen the reform of local government from 2014 to present and has been involved in shaping the Local Development Plan. He currently sits on the Councils Planning, Finance and Corporate Policy Committee’s and is a member of the NILGA executive committee.  He holds no other public appointments.

Gareth Sharvin

Gareth has served with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council since 2011 representing the Downpatrick DEA, He has particular experience within corporate governance, policy development and strategic planning.  He currently works for a multi-national software company as a Supportability Program Manager, managing transformational programs across the organisation. He has a range of active volunteering roles including as Club President of a local football club and as Assistant Secretary of his local GAA club. He is a Board Member on LibrariesNI, with remuneration of £3380 per annum.  He holds no other public appointments.

Pete Wray

Pete is an elected Councillor on Ards and North Down Borough Council, representing the Ards Peninsula Ward. He is also the Party Spokesperson for The Arts.  Pete is also the Manager or Ards and North Down Alternatives, a community based restorative justice organisation. He served as an independent member of the Ards and North Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership between 2019 and 2023.  He holds no other public appointments.

8. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
9. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
10. Follow the Department on X/Twitter @deptinfra on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure and on LinkedIn at DfILinkedIn.