Appointment of new Chair to the Board of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland
Date published:
Economy Minister Conor Murphy has announced the appointment of a new Chair to the Board of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).
Mrs Catherine Irwin MBE has been appointed to serve for four years with effect from 17 June 2024.
Commenting on the appointment, the Minister said:
“The Health and Safety Executive plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of our workplaces. It helps to underpin my Economic Vision and Good Jobs agenda. A good job is a safe job.
“The new Chair brings with her an array of skills and experience which will complement those of existing Board Members. This appointment will strengthen the Board and enhance HSENI’s overall effectiveness and success. I wish Catherine well in her appointment. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the continued contribution and commitment of existing Board members.”
Notes to editors:
1. The appointment has been made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland. More information is available on the CPANI website.
2. A pen picture of Mrs Irwin is available on the Department’s website.
3. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) with Crown status, funded by grant-in-aid from the Department of Economy. It was established on 1 April 1999 by an Order in Council amending the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978. Its mission is to ensure that risks to people’s health and safety arising from work activities are effectively controlled. The HSENI Board currently comprises five members.
4. HSENI appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments (CPANI).
5. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published. The appointee has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.
6. The Department may take photographs and videos at announcements and events to publicise its work. Photographs, interviews, videos or other recordings may be issued to media organisations for publicity purposes or used in promotional material, including in publications, newspapers, magazines, other print media, on television, radio and electronic media (including social media and the internet). Photographs and videos will also be stored on the Department’s internal records management system. The Department will keep the photographs and recordings for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which they have been obtained. The Department’s Privacy Policy is available on our website.
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