Minister McHugh announces Inland Fisheries Ireland Board appointments

Press release,14 January 2016

Minister McHugh announces Inland Fisheries Ireland Board appointments

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Joe McHugh T.D., announced today that the Government had noted the decision to appoint Mr. Patrick Gibbons to the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland for a period of five years.  This appointment was made having regard to advice received from the Joint Oireachtas Committee (JOC) on Transport and Communications in accordance with Sections 12(1)(b) and 12(3) of the Inland Fisheries Act, 2010.

In welcoming the appointment of Mr. Gibbons, Minister of State McHugh said “Mr. Gibbons brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland, particularly in the areas of legal, regulatory, corporate governance and commercial affairs.  I wish Mr. Gibbons well in his role as a board member”.

The Government also noted the appointment of a worker representative, Mr. Sean Coady, to the Board for a five year term with effect from 17th November, 2015.  The staff of IFI voted to elect Mr. Coady in line with section 13 of the 2010 Act. 

The exemptions set out at Section 9.1.1 of the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards apply to both of these appointments and as a result no stateboards.ie process was required in either case.

There are currently two vacant positions on the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland.  Both of these vacancies are currently in the process of being filled through the Public Appointments Service (PAS).

ENDS

Note to Editors
                                                                                                                                                                                                        
Biography of appointees

Patrick Gibbons
Mr. Patrick Gibbons is an objective full-time Non-Executive Director. He is a commercial lawyer with experience on the board of a life and pensions insurer, and chairman of its audit committee. He is a member of the Board of the National Treatment Purchase fund and has  15 years experience at senior executive level having been in charge of the compliance and legal functions of a number of leading financial services regulated entities encompassing enterprise risk management, corporate governance and regulatory relationships.

Sean Coady
Mr. Sean Coady is an Assistant Inspector in the Connemara District – Western Region Basin District. IFI staff voted on 28th October 2015 to elect Mr. Sean Coady as a worker representative in line with section 13 of the Inland Fisheries Act, 2010.  In line with the provisions of the 2010 Act, Minister of State McHugh appointed Mr. Coady to the Board for a five year term with effect from 17th November, 2015. 
Inland Fisheries Ireland Board Members at 13 January 2016

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