Public Appointments
Introduction
The Department is responsible for the appointment of commissioners and board members to the Boards of the Trust Ports of Belfast, Londonderry and Warrenpoint and the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHC). Advertisements for all the available public appointments appear widely in the local press when each competition commences but are also held on the six monthly list published by the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister Central Appointments Unit. Details are also held on the Units website Central Appointments Unit
. Appointments to the Boards of the main trust ports are monitored by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA).
Back To Top
Northern Ireland Trust Ports
The Department appoints members to the Boards of the three main trust ports of Belfast, Londonderry and Warrenpoint. The Commissioners or Authority members are appointed following a public competition and serve for a defined period, normally three years or four years.
There are no public competitions ongoing at present.
Appointments
The Board of Belfast Harbour Commissioners consists of 15 members, including the Chief Executive who is appointed to the Board by virtue of his position (ex-officio) and 4 councillors from Belfast City Council. The current Board of Belfast Harbour Commissioners was appointed on 1 February 2011 for a four year period. The Chairman of Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Len O'Hagan, has been re-appointed for a four year period effective from 1 January 2011.
The current Board of Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners was appointed on 8 February 2011 and has a membership of 9. The Board will serve for a four-year period.
The Chairman of Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners, Garvan O'Doherty, has been reappointed for a four year period effective from 8 February 2010.
The current Board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority was appointed on 1 October 2010 for four years and has 10 members, which includes the Chief Executive (ex-officio), the Financial Director (ex-officio) and 3 councillors from Newry and Mourne District Council. Three re-appointments to the Board were made on 1 October 2008 for a four year period The current Chair to the Board was appointed with effect from 1 October 2011 for a four year period.
The Department also exercises an appointments function for Civil Servants to act as Donaghadee Harbour Commissioners. Coleraine Harbour Board is appointed by Coleraine Borough Council.
Back To Top
Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHC)
Public Appointments to the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company
The Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHC) was established by the Transport Act (NI) 1967. NITHC is the parent company of the publicly owned bus and rail companies in Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Railways, Metro and Ulsterbus), all operating under the brand name of Translink. The Department has responsibility for appointing the Chairman and non-executive Directors to the Board of NITHC. The NITHC Board has a membership comprising a Chairman and eight other Directors, five of whom are non-executive Directors, appointed by the Minister under the Transport Act (NI) 1967. The current Chair of the Board was appointed for four years from 1 July 2011. The newly appointed non executive directors were appointed with effect from 1 October 2011 and their term of office will end on 30 June 2015.
Appointment of Non Executive Director To The Board of The Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company.
Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy today announced the appointment of Bernard Mitchell as a non executive director to the board of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company.
The appointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland (CPANI) Code of Practice.
The term of office for the new appointee ends on 30 June 2015.
This appointment has arisen due the resignation of Sharon O'Connor, in November, one of four non executive directors to the Board, newly appointed 1st October 2011. Ms O'Connor tendered her resignation to the Board due to other work commitments.
The principle function of the Board members is to provide the expertise to ensure that that the Company is operating in accordance with Ministerial priorities. Its responsibilities include holding and managing property assets and the oversight, in terms of support, control and supervision, of its subsidiary companies, principally Ulsterbus, Metro and Northern Ireland Railways, trading jointly as Translink.
