Appointment of two Non-Executive Members to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service

The Department of Health has announced the appointment of two Non-Executive Members to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS).

Mr Jim Lennon’s appointment as Non-Executive Lay Member and Mr Paul Kennedy’s appointment as Non-Executive Finance Member commenced on 14 November 2022 and will end on a date not later than 13 November 2026.   

The Non-Executive Member positions attract an annual remuneration of £6,535 with a time commitment of three days per month.

These appointments are made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland.

NIFRS aims to save lives by responding to fires, road traffic collisions and specialist rescue incidents including flooding, chemical incidents, collapsed buildings and other emergencies.  The NIFRS Board comprises the Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, a Non-Executive Chair and 10 other Non-Executive Members appointed by the Department.

Notes to editors: 

1. Mr Jim Lennon works in Middletown Centre for Autism and is also a beef farmer specialising in the production of Aberdeen Angus cattle. He is also involved in the Derrynoose Community Development Association as a voluntary director. Jim has significant wider senior public sector experience shown in both his current role as CEO in Middletown Centre for Autism and various former senior roles in the National Health Service and in the Further and Higher Education sector. He has also been involved in local economic and social regeneration matters in Armagh. Jim holds one other public appointment as a Non-Executive Director on DAERA’s Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) Board; this appointment requires a time commitment of one day per month with a remuneration of £6,485 per annum.
2. Mr Paul Kennedy is a Chartered Accountant with significant experience in corporate finance and corporate governance gained over 35 years in professional accountancy practice and the public sector. He has a detailed working knowledge of the complex financial transactions and sponsorship responsibilities for Arms Length Bodies. Paul is a former Chair of the Ulster Society of Chartered Accountants Ireland and Council Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. He has also contributed as a board member of several local charities and arts organisations. He holds one other public appointment as a member of the Management Committee of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium. There is no remuneration associated with this appointment; the time commitment is approximately 8 days per annum.
3. Appointments to NIFRS are made with the approval of the Department of Health.
4. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published.  Both appointees have declared that they have not engaged in any political activity in the last five years. 
5. For media enquiries please contact DoH Press Office by e-mail pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk
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7. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The Duty Press Officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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