O’Dowd appoints Derry City and Strabane Councillors to the Board of Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners

Infrastructure Minister, John O’Dowd has appointed John Boyle and Julie Middleton to serve as Non-Executive Councillor Members on the Board of Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners.

The appointments took effect on 1 July 2024 and will be for a maximum of four years.

Minister O’Dowd said:

“I am pleased to announce the appointments of John Boyle and Julie Middleton to these important roles. I am confident they will maintain the high standard of work set by previous Members.”

The Commissioners have responsibility, under a series of Harbour Acts and Orders, for developing, maintaining, and operating Foyle Port to the highest standards of efficiency, financial prudence, environmental awareness, safety, and security to the benefit of all stakeholders.

Notes to editors: 

1. Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners is a Public Trust Port established by legislation. The Constitution of the Commissioners was established under the Londonderry Harbour Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 (No 41).
2. The Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners currently have a membership of a Chair, two Executive Members, four Non-Executive Members and one Councillor Non-Executive Member. The Members of the LPHC Board currently receive remuneration of £9,326 per annum.
3. Councillors are appointed to the Board in line with the Londonderry Harbour Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 and can only serve as a Board Member if they remain a member of the Derry and Strabane District Council. The appointment is up to a maximum of four years.
4. The Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published.  John has declared that he has undertaken political activity on behalf of the Social Democratic & Labour Party and Julie has declared that she has undertaken political activity on behalf of the Democratic Unionist Party.  All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.
5. The appointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Code of Practice.
6. Biographies

John Boyle
John was first elected as a Councillor in 2011. Since then, he has served his community as Mayor and Deputy Mayor.  He is currently a member of three standing committees of the Council, the Planning Committee, Environment and Regeneration Committee and the Health and Communities Committee. John is also a management board member of both City of Derry Airport and Visit Derry. He holds no other posts.

Julie Middleton
Julie has been an elected representative since May 2023. She has been a vocal and proactive member of the Business and Culture and Environment and Regeneration committees. She has served on the board of RAPID and has recently been appointed to the board of City of Derry Airport. Julie is employed with the Foyle Down Syndrome Trust as the Mentor and Inclusion Officer. She currently holds no other positions where she is in receipt of remuneration.

7. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
8. 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.
9. Follow the Department on X/Twitter @deptinfra on Facebook  @DepartmentforInfrastructure and on LinkedIn at DfILinkedIn .

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