29 September 2000

APPOINTMENTS TO LABOUR RELATIONS AGENCY

Dr Sean Farren, Minister for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, today announced the appointment of Mrs Margaret Watson and

Mr Eugene McGlone to the Board of the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) for a period of three years from 1 October 2000.

Mrs Margaret Watson - Mrs Watson is a qualified Barrister and spent eight years as Senior Legal Services Officer with the Fair Employment Commission. She has recently retired from her post as Deputy Director of Employment Equality within the Sex Equality Directorate of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. She has a sound grasp of employment relations and legislation. She is seen as coming from an employee background.

Mr Eugene McGlone - Mr McGlone is Vice-Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Committee, Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC ICTU) and Regional Organiser/Deputy Regional Secretary of the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union (ATGWU). He has a wealth of experience of trade union issues and is currently a member of the Industrial Tribunals for which an attendance fee of £135 per day is paid. He is seen as coming from an employee background.

None of the appointees has been involved in significant political activity in the last five years.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The LRA was established in 1976 by the Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 as the independent body responsible for promoting the improvement of employment relations in Northern Ireland. The Agency is an executive Non Departmental Public Body and is, broadly speaking, the Northern Ireland equivalent of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) in Great Britain. Appointment to the Board attracts remuneration of £4,220 per annum.

Other members of the Board are: Chairman, Professor Desmond Rea OBE; Mr James Collins; Mr Raymond (Ray) A Coughlin; Ms Rotha Johnston; Ms Patricia Maxwell; Ms Elizabeth May and Mr Alan Mercer.