Industrial Court reappointments
Barry Fitzpatrick
Barry Fitzpatrick has been deputy chairman of the Industrial Court since its reconstitution in 2001 and acting chairman of the Court since 2010. He has a law degree from Queen’s University (1975), a master's degree in Industrial Relations from Warwick University (1979) and is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Judicature of Northern Ireland of over 40 years’ standing.
His academic career was pursued in Preston, Leicester and primarily at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne before becoming Professor of Law, later Jean Monnet Professor of European Law (ad personam/on an individual basis) and inaugural head of the Law School at the University of Ulster (1995-2002).
He left academic life to become head of legal policy and advice at the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (2002-05) and latterly has largely conducted a law and policy consultancy until his effective retirement in 2015. He was a part-time chairman of Industrial Tribunals from 1998 to 2002.
He holds no other public appointments.
Barbara Martin
Barbara was employed as a clinical physiologist by the Royal Group of Hospitals (now the Belfast Trust) for more than 37 years, during which time she was a union representative and senior representative. She held a Ministerial appointment as a member of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) for two terms. She was chair of the NICICTU (Northern Ireland Committee Irish Congress of Trade Unions) Health & Safety committee for eight years and, as a tutor for ICTU, teaches this and other related subjects for trade union students. Barbara is a previous member of the European Trades Unions Congress (ETUC), representing the UK in Luxembourg and later Ireland in Brussels on behalf of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions.
She holds no other public appointments.
Robin Bell
Robin spent 39 years in the finance sector and is a director of the Allied Irish Bank (AIB) UK pension scheme. Robin was on the National Executive of the Financial Services Union and served as Honorary Secretary.
He holds no other public appointments.
Patrick Masterson
Pat has been a panel member of the Industrial Court since 2011. He joined the Court as a representative with an employer background after a lengthy career in human resource management within the telecoms industry. He had also been an active participant within CBI Northern Ireland, chairing the employment affairs committee of that body for five years. Over the last 10 years he has been working as a human resources consultant, engaged by a range of public and private and voluntary sector organisations on change management programmes and to address employee relations issues. He is also a trustee director of the Nortel pension plan and an officer holder of a charity working in support of the EA Southern Region Music Service.
He holds no other public appointments.
Patricia O’Callaghan
Patricia is a retired health service director with experience in industrial relations, managing and resolving conflict and employment legislation. She is board member with the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) and a member of its audit committee (remuneration £5961.96 per annum). Patricia is also a panel member of the Agricultural Wages Board (remuneration £265/day pro rata).