Boards of North South Bodies

Background

1. The British-Irish Agreement of 8 March 1999 sets out the governance arrangements for the North South Implementation Bodies. The provisions of the agreement have been incorporated in legislation by means of The North South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and the British Irish Agreement Act 1999.
2. The Agreement empowers the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) to appoint Boards to the Trade and Business Development Body (InterTradeIreland, ITI), the North South Language Body (which includes Foras na Gaeilge and Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch), the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (FCILC) and an advisory Board to the Food Safety Promotion Board (FSPB).
3. The governance provisions of the Agreement do not apply to Tourism Ireland (TI) which is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, which largely mirror the provisions of the Agreement. Tourism Ireland is a company limited by guarantee and has a Board of 12 Directors, also appointed by NSMC.    
4. Two North South Bodies, the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and the Inland Waterways Body (Waterways Ireland), do not have Boards. 

Appointment Process

5. There are 72 members on the Boards of these Bodies.  Members are nominated for appointment by the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government.  Each administration is responsible for nominating half the members to each Board.

Terms of Appointment

6. The Agreement provides that Board Members can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms of up to five years each.  This does not preclude a Board member from being appointed to the Board of a different North South Body following the completion of two terms on another Board.

Tourism Ireland

7. Tourism Ireland is not subject to the same provisions so all Board members are eligible to be reappointed.  Tourism Ireland’s Articles of Association provide that the Ministers responsible for tourism marketing policy in each jurisdiction are responsible for making nominations for the Board.

The company’s Articles of Association state:

29. The NSMC shall have the right exercisable from time to time to appoint not more than twelve persons at any one time as directors of the company, including the Chairman and the vice-Chairman, and the persons so appointed shall comprise the Board of Directors of the company. Six such directors shall be nominated by each relevant Minister.

30. Directors of the company, including the Chairman and the vice-Chairman, shall be appointed by the NSMC, on the basis of the arrangements agreed by the two relevant Ministers. Such Directors shall be appointed on the basis of the experience and/or the expertise they would bring to the work of the Board.

Remuneration

8. The current levels of remuneration for Board Members of North South Bodies are :

Current Board Members

The current membership of the Boards of the North South Bodies can be found at:

• InterTradeIreland

https://intertradeireland.com/corporate-information/board-members

• Safefood

https://www.safefood.net/advisory-board

• Lough Agency

https://www.loughs-agency.org/about-us/the-board/board-members/

• Ulster Scots Agency

https://www.ulsterscotsagency.com/about-us/board-members-and-staff/

• Foras na Gaeilge

https://www.forasnagaeilge.ie/about/corporate-information/the-board/?lang=en

• Tourism Ireland

https://www.tourismireland.com/About-Us/Organisation-Structure/The-Board