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13 September 2004

APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF WARRENPOINT HARBOUR AUTHORITY ANNOUNCED

Minister of State, John Spellar, MP, today announced appointments to the Board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority.

The appointments, which include a new Chairman, will take effect from 1 October 2004.

The Minister said: "A wide range of candidates was attracted for the posts of Chairman and members on the Board. The new members appointed will contribute to the creation of a strong and representative Board, which now has 12 members.

"I welcome Mr James R Stewart as new Chairman and four members appointed through the recent competition: Ms Margaret Andrews,

Mr Kieran Campbell, Mr Peter Conway and Mr Gerard McGivern, all of whom bring experience in different areas which will be of benefit to the Board. I welcome Mr William Mullen, who has been re-appointed for a further three year term, and Mr Kevin Hobbs and

Captain Samuel Pollock, who have agreed to serve for an additional year so that the Board may benefit from their knowledge and experience at a time when substantial change is taking place.

"I also welcome back the three Councillors nominated by Newry and Mourne District Council – Councillors Michael Carr, Michael Ruane and Anthony Williamson. Mr Quintin Goldie, the Port’s Chief Executive, will also continue to serve on the Board in his ex-officio capacity.

"The new Board will help build on the recent success of the Port, and is well equipped to help maximise the Port’s potential. I wish to thank Mr Denis Connolly, the retiring Chairman, and the two retiring members, Mr Gerard Trainor and Mr George Hunter, for their dedicated public service over the years. They all made a valuable contribution to the work of the Board and I wish them well for the future."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. Warrenpoint Harbour Authority is responsible for the improvement, maintenance and management of Warrenpoint Harbour and for the accommodation and facilities within it. Board members currently receive remuneration of £5435 per annum, and the Chairman’s post attracts £16305 per annum.

  2. The present term of office for the members of the Board expires on 30 September 2004. The new Board is being appointed from 1 October 2004 for a period of three years. Both retiring members, Mr Gerard Trainor and Mr George Hunter, have completed two terms of service dating back to 1998, while Mr Denis Connolly has completed ten years as Chairman.

  3. The new Chairman, Mr James R Stewart, brings broad experience of both public and private sectors, having gained 25 years experience in industry, both as manager and Managing Director, working in four different manufacturing sectors and four different countries abroad during that time. He was non-executive Director of the Board of the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland and has served as non Executive Director of the Local Enterprise Development Unit and on the Eastern Health and Social Services Board. Mr Stewart is also currently Chairman of Green Park Health Trust and receives remuneration of £19285 per annum.

  4. Ms Margaret Andrews has previously served as a member on the Board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority, but is eligible to serve a further term as she was successful in the recent open competition. She has 20 years experience of economic and community enterprise development in Newry and Mourne and is a consultant specialising in, amongst others, strategic and operational planning. Ms Andrews is currently also a board member of the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority with remuneration of £3335 per annum.

  5. Mr Kieran Campbell is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and is a local businessman with 10 years experience as Finance/Managing Director of a local company which imports timber and building materials and employs 500 people. He is currently a principal of a property company and financial consultancy business.

  6. Mr Peter Conway is a management consultant working in management and specialising in strategic planning, marketing and public affairs. He has 15 years experience gained in the oil terminal business and is a former chairman and current committee member of the Northern Ireland Government Affairs Group and is an executive member of Newry Chamber of Commerce. Mr Conway is a member of the board of governors of Kilbroney Integrated Primary School in Rostrevor, which is not remunerated.

  7. Mr Gerard McGivern is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. He has experience of small business development and local economic development, being currently employed as Director of District Development with Newry and Mourne District Council and previously as Director of Development with Banbridge District Council. Mr McGivern is currently a Director of East Border Region Committee Ltd, which is not remunerated.

  8. None of these individuals has carried out any political activity in the last five years.

  9. The process for reconstituting the Board was carried out in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Monitored Kitemark Scheme.

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