29 September 2000

RE-APPOINTMENTS TO LABOUR RELATIONS AGENCY

Dr Sean Farren, Minister for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, today announced the re-appointment of Ms Patricia Maxwell, Ms Elizabeth May and Mr James Collins to the Board of the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) from 1 October 2000 for a period of three years.

Mr James Collins has extensive industrial and managerial experience. He was Plant Manager of Ford Motor Co Ltd from 1966 until his retirement in 1999 prior to which he worked at Monanto Chemicals for five years and DuPont for three. He was a member of the Industrial Research and Technology Unit Board from 1992 to 1998 and is currently a member of the Belfast Education & Library Board and the Governing Bodies of Further Education for which he receives expenses only. He is also a panel member of the Fair Employment Tribunal for which he receives an attendance fee of £135 per day and Enterprise Ulster for which he receives remuneration of £133 per day. Mr Collins has not been involved in any political activity in the last five years.

Ms Patricia Maxwell is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Ulster specialising in Industrial Law. During her time with UU she has lectured mainly to students planning to become human resource managers rather than lawyers. She was a member of

the Child Support Appeals Tribunals from 1992 to 1999. Ms Maxwell has not been involved in any political activity in the last five years.

Ms Elizabeth May joined the NI Housing Executive in 1972 and is now Senior Administrative Officer. She is a former President of the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) and has a wealth of experience of trade union issues. She has been a panel member of the Industrial Tribunals since 1996 for which she receives remuneration of £135 per day. Ms May has not been involved in any 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; Baroness Blood MBE; Mr Raymond (Ray) A Coughlin; Mrs Mary Donnelly; Ms Rotha Johnston; Mr Andy Snoddy; and Mr Alan Mercer.