Location: Home > Public Transport > Public Apointments 

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.

New 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 January 2008 for a four year period.

The current Board of Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners was appointed on 8 February 2007 and has a membership of 9, which includes the Chief Executive (ex-officio) and 3 councillors from Derry City Council. The Board will serve for a four-year period.

The current Board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority was appointed on 1 October 2007 for three years and has 11 members, which includes the Chief Executive (ex-officio), the Financial Director (ex-officio) and 3 councillors from Newry and Mourne District Council. Three new appointments to the Board were made on 1 October 2005 to replace three retiring members.

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)

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, for a three year period. The NITHC Board has a membership comprising a Chairman and eight other Directors, six of whom are non-executive Directors, appointed by the DRD under the Transport Act (NI) 1967.

Vacancies will arise in the near future for three non-executive Director posts and the department will shortly be advertising to fill these vacancies.

Terms of Appointment

All appointments will be for a term of 3 years from 1 July 2008

Time Commitment and Remuneration

• Non-executive directors will receive £12,084 per annum
• An additional £2,372 per annum if they should Chair a sub committee.
• The post will require a commitment of 4 days per month

How to Apply

Application packs will be available from 11th February 2008 and can be obtained as follows:-

Telephone: 02890 540896      Fax: 02890 540598

Email:  raymond.mccullough@drdni.gov.uk

Or by writing to:

Mr R McCullough, Ports & Public Transport Division, Room 3-09, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Belfast , BT2 8GB

A Job and Person specification

Completed application forms must be returned in hard copy to the above address by 3pm on Wednesday 19 March 2008.  CVs will not be accepted.  The Department reserves the right to shortlist candidates for interview on the basis of the declared criteria.

Interviews will take place in April 2008 or as soon as practicable thereafter.

Equality Opportunity

We are committed to the principle of public appointments based on merit with independent assessment, openness and transparency of process.  We welcome applications from all suitably qualified applicants irrespective of religious belief, gender, disability, race, political opinion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or whether or not they have dependants.  As women, younger people, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities are currently underrepresented on the Board, applications from these groups would be particularly welcomed.  

All applications for appointment are considered strictly on merit.

Back To Top