FSAI - Key Persons
Alan Kelly is a Professor in the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences at University College Cork. His teaching responsibilities include food processing and preservation, dairy product technology and new food product development, with a particular interest in the development of new food processing technologies and their impact on food quality and safety. He leads an active research group on the chemistry and processing of milk and dairy products, and has published around 300 research papers, review articles and book chapters. He has been an Editor of the International Dairy Journal since 2005 and is author or editor of several books including Molecules, Microbes and Meals and How Scientists Communicate: Dispatches from the Frontiers of Knowledge.
Cormac Healy provided insight into the discussions IBEC were having in relation to the current environment. CH stated that over 96% of the cases traced back to meat plants had recovers and returned to work, while the remaining cases continued to isolate in line with current government guidelines. A message of vigilance and lack of complacency was being stressed to all plants to help keep everyone focused. CH confirmed some plants had begun implementing temperature checks on employees before beginning work and that most plants were updating procedures in preparation of any second wave of the virus.
Professor Dagmar Stengel, BSc, PhD, MA, is a Professor in Botany and Head of Botany and Plant Science at NUI Galway. Her research focuses on algae (seaweeds and microalgae) and seagrasses, with a particular interest in the sustainable and safe utilisation of algal resources, and impacts of global change on aquatic primary productivity. She has published widely on aspects of environmental and applied algal research, with a focus on environmental impacts and chemical profiling, specifically of high-value (e.g., bioactives) components, and heavy metals, arsenic and iodine. With a strong research background in the ‘Blue Growth' sphere, she has contributed to many national and international advisory committees and review panels. She current serves on the BioBased-EU Joint Undertaking Scientific Committee and the NSAI TC 454 Algae and Algal Products, and respective CEN working groups. She was previously a member of the FSAI ad-hoc committee on ‘seaweed'.
Dermot Jewell led a conversation on the likely financial impact expected for all businesses and employees as a result of prolonged lockdowns and/or need for isolation. There was specific emphasis placed on the packages being prepared by the government to assist small businesses and helping them emerge from such unprecedented drop in revenue. DJ stressed the likely impact on employees also in challenges they would face in relation to debt payments, rent and possible need for further loans to assist them.
Dolores O'Riordan completed a BSc and a PhD in Food Protein Chemistry. Following time as a research fellow at UCC and Cornell University she moved to commercial food research. She joined UCD and is now a Full Professor of Food Science. Her research focuses on the physico-chemical properties of food ingredients and food structures that enhance health benefits. She has secured substantial research funding ( 38 million) to conduct research in this area. She has supervised 45 postgraduate students to completion and has over 100 peer reviewed publications (H factor=36). She is currently the Director of UCD's Institute of Food and Health. In her role as the University's Vice-President for Global Engagement she is a member of the University's Senior Management Team. She has created active global partnerships at University level, around sustainable healthy food in the USA, MENA, and China. She holds appointments on several national and European committees/boards.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Community Food Group
- Chairman of Community Food Group ( DLe )
Andrew Flanagan, B.Sc. (Biotechnology, DCU), Ph.D. (Biochemistry, NUI), LL.B. (NUI) is the Regional Public Analyst based in Dublin with responsibility for the HSE Dublin mid-Leinster and HSE Dublin North areas. Andrew has 25 years' experience in food analysis, in food law enforcement and food law matters in Ireland and abroad and is a recognised expert (national, EU and beyond) in food allergen and intolerance issues as well as food labelling and bottled water. He worked for both public and private bodies in food analysis also in medical science and research. He is a member of the FSAI Legislation committee and was a member of the food allergy and intolerance, food information to consumers and bottled water expert working groups as well as chairing the HSE-FSAI Laboratory Information Management System working group. He consults as an expert with the NSAI on the drafting of Irish Standards for water and food.
Job Titles:
- Head of the Food Safety Department at Teagasc
Dr Geraldine Duffy is Head of the Food Safety Department at Teagasc, Ashtown, Dublin, and is a Senior Principal Research Officer. Her specific area of interest is microbial food safety including the transmission, behaviour and control of microbial pathogens along the farm to fork chain. Her research has had a particular focus on Shigatoxigenic E. coli (STEC) in food production animals and red meat. She has participated in many national and EU Commission funded research programmes and is widely published in the field of microbial food safety. She has also served as a food safety expert for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and WHO/FAO.
Dr Karl McDonald was introduced to the members and he went to present to the members and the main points of his presentation included:
Job Titles:
- Teagasc Food Research Centre [KB]
Job Titles:
- Consultant in Public Health Medicine
Dr Lois O'Connor is a Consultant in Public Health Medicine. She graduated from University College Dublin in 1997 and has completed post-graduate higher specialist training in both General Practice and Public Health Medicine. She has a special interest in Infectious Disease Epidemiology and has completed a Fellowship in this area, awarded by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Dr O'Connor has worked regionally and nationally in Public Health and has recently joined the National Health Protection Office as a Consultant in Public Health Medicine.
Job Titles:
- Head of Food Microbiology Laboratories With the Department of Agriculture
Dr Montserrat Gutierrez is the Head of Food Microbiology Laboratories with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. She is a Veterinary Surgeon with a PhD for studies on tuberculosis in goats and cattle. Her career in Ireland started at the Veterinary Services Division of Northern Ireland from where she moved to be a veterinary practitioner in Cork, before joining DAFM in 2001. Since then she has occupied managerial positions in laboratories specialised in microbiological, molecular and chemical analysis that act as National Reference Laboratories, and where she has participated in investigation, surveillance and applied research of chemical and biological foodborne related hazards. She has led projects on accreditation and merging of laboratory quality systems and she participates regularly as a national expert in EU Commission audits evaluating laboratory official controls in other countries.
GC advised that Gerard Power will provide the secretariat services to the FSCC from 2022.
The Chair welcomed Gerard Power to the FSCC and thanked Eileen Lippert.
Professor Kevin Cashman, B.Sc., Ph.D, D.Sc., is the Endowed Chair of Food and Health at University College Cork (UCC), a joint position between the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences and the Department of Medicine at UCC. He is also a joint director of the Cork Centre for Vitamin D and Nutrition Research at UCC. Professor Cashman's current research interests focus on a number of key public health areas in relation to vitamin D and vitamin K as well as diet and bone health. He has around 200 publications; he was awarded a DSc for published work in 2020. Professor Cashman is currently a member of the FAO-WHO expert group on nutrient requirements for infants and young children aged 0-36 months and the Scientific Committee of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. He has previously served as a member of expert committees and working groups, such as the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition working group on vitamin D.
Job Titles:
- Head of Food Research at Teagasc
Professor Mark Fenelon is the Head of Food Research at Teagasc and responsible for the programme at the research centres located at Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork and Ashtown, Dublin in Ireland. He is a Senior Principal Research Officer and was appointed to his current position in March 2015. Mark was appointed Adjunct Professor at University College Dublin, Ireland (School of Biosystems and Food Engineering) on 1 June 2020. Mark began his career in Teagasc as a Senior Research Scientist in 2004. Prior to joining Teagasc, Mark worked in the Infant formula industry as a research scientist. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Food Science and Technology from University College Cork, Ireland in 1994, a PhD in Food Science and Technology in 2000 and a Diploma in Process and Chemical Engineering in 2007. His main research interests are in dairy chemistry and related dairy processes. He has expertise in rheology, protein - carbohydrate, protein - mineral interactions and associated instrumentation / analytical techniques. He has extensive experience working with thermal and dehydration (spray drying) technologies from both an industrial and academic perspective.
Professor Martin Cormican graduated from National University of Ireland, Galway Medical School in 1986. He trained in Ireland, the UK and the USA. In 1999, he was appointed Consultant Microbiologist at Galway University Hospital and Professor of Bacteriology at National University of Ireland, Galway. Since May 2017, he is the HSE National Lead for Healthcare Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance. In February 2021, he was appointed HSE Clinical Lead for the COVID-19 vaccination roll out. His research interests are antimicrobial resistance, foodborne infection and the links between environment and human health.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor in Food Microbiology at the University of Limerick
Martin Wilkinson is currently Associate Professor in Food Microbiology at the University of Limerick and lectures on the B.Sc in Food Science and Health degree programme at UL. Prof Wilkinson holds a B.Sc. Hons in Microbiology (1984) and an MSc. in Biotechnology (1986), both awarded at NUI Galway, and a Ph.D in Food Technology from University College, Cork, awarded in 1992. Professor Wilkinson has 35 years of research experience in Teagasc, Waterford Foods (now Glanbia) and joined UL in 2000. His research interests are in Dairy technology, cheese microbiology, development and safety aspects of reformulated low salt/low fat ready meals and since joining UL he has also developed a particular specialisation in the rapid detection of pathogens in foods using novel flow cytometry-based methods. Prof Wilkinson is Editor and Contributor to a book entitled "Microbial Flow Cytometry Technology and Applications" and has generated >100 peer reviewed publications in these areas.
Gerry McCurdy has over 40 years' experience working in a regulatory environment dealing with food safety, public health and consumer protection. He qualified as an Environmental Health Officer at the University of Ulster in 1978 and went on to attain a Master of Science Degree in 1991. He has held a number of senior positions in local and central government and was instrumental in setting up of the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland (FSA NI). As Northern Ireland Director of the FSA he developed close working relations with the FSAI and the Food Safety Promotion Board. On retirement in 2013, Mr McCurdy has worked as a food safety consultant for the UN FAO and the World Bank on projects in Bosnia and Bangladesh. Mr McCurdy has considerable experience at Board level working with the Regulation, Quality and Improvement Authority and is the Deputy Chief Commissioner for the Northern Ireland Charity Commission. He is also a member of their respective Audit and Risk Committees.
Ann Horan is a former Chair of the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). Her executive roles included the positions of Chief Executive of the DCU Ryan Academy, Managing Director of Bank of Ireland Finance and Bank of Ireland Commercial Finance and Head of Group Risk & Compliance at Bank of Ireland. She has served on several boards including Dublin City University, the Institute of Bankers, South Dublin Chamber of Commerce, and chaired associations including the UK based Factors & Discounters Association and the International Women's Forum. In addition, she chaired the audit committees of the HPRA and South Dublin County Council. Through her successful career, Ann developed expertise in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, financial control, and corporate governance. She has proven ability to operate in both the public and private sectors and has direct experience in the areas of regulation, finance, education, and public health. Ann is a Chartered Certified Accountant with a Masters in Finance from DCU.
Ann Marie Part holds a Diploma in Environmental Health DIT, BSc (Hons) Trinity College, MSc Agriculture and Food Science, UCD and Graduate Award in Executive Leadership, Irish Management Institute (IMI). She is a Life Fellow and former Chair of the Environmental Health Association of Ireland (EHAI), and Honorary Vice President of the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS). Ann Marie is currently HSE Assistant National Director for Environmental Health with responsibility for the overall strategic and operational management of the HSE national Environmental Health Service (EHS). The primary role of the EHS is as a regulatory inspectorate responsible for enforcing a range of statutory functions enacted to protect and promote the health of the population. Her expertise particularly lies in the protection of public health from environmental risks through education, communication, advocacy, research and policy development; coupled with the implementation of regulatory frameworks through surveillance, monitoring, inspection, audit, sampling and enforcement.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Director of Communication & Marketing
Eilis is Head of University Relations, Director of Communication & Marketing and a member of the University Management Team at University College Dublin. Previously she held a similar role at Dublin City University. In addition to her marketing experience in product and public awareness campaigns, brand identity and corporate reputation, Eilis has extensive strategic and operational experience in media and corporate communication with a high degree of crisis management. Eilis has held a number of senior communication and marketing roles in a variety of public and private sectors spanning finance, natural gas, food safety, health and higher education. Her experience also includes clean air designation and tobacco control. Previously she was director of communication, education & training during the start-up phase of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Eilis was public relations manager with Bank of Ireland for eight years and with Bord Gáis Eireann, the national natural gas operator in Ireland, for five years. She is a member of the board of the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. Eilis holds an MBA from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and a BA in Economics and Geography from UCD.
Ita Kinahan, MSc, FICI, was State Chemist for 10 years from 2012 to 2022. As State Chemist, she had overall responsibility for the management and development of the State Laboratory, which is the Government's principal analytical chemistry laboratory. The State Laboratory provides a comprehensive analytical and advisory service in the areas of food and feed safety, revenue collection, forensic toxicology, medicines and food supplements. Ita joined the State Laboratory in 1990 and worked in a number of areas including occupational health and safety, veterinary medicines and official control of animal feedingstuffs. As Principal Chemist, she was responsible for managing a senior team covering all food and feed safety analyses. She was a member of the Irish Codex Advisory Committee and represented Ireland on the Codex Alimentarius Committee for Methods of Analysis and Sampling for many years. She is currently the vice Chair of the Irish National Accreditation Board having held the position of Chair from 2016 to 2022.
Job Titles:
- Executive Coach and Strategy Consultant
Lisa Manselli is an Executive Coach and Strategy Consultant. Prior to setting up her own business, Lisa was a Partner at Accenture where she led the management consultancy business in Ireland. A core focus of her work for the last 10 years has been developing corporate strategy in regulatory environments. Her clients have included CORU (health and social care professionals regulator); the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (the regulatory body for nursing and midwifery); PSI, the Pharmacy Regulator; and the Residential Tenancies Board. Lisa graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Lisa also has a Masters in International Business Studies from the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, Dublin. She is a certified business coach (ICF) and qualified mediator. Lisa sits on the board of a private hospital in Ireland and has been on the board of a number of tech start-ups. She was also an adjunct Professor of Strategy at the IE Business School in Madrid from 2014-2016.
Mary Cullen is a Chartered Accountant. She attended Trinity College Dublin where she studied Business, Economics and Social Studies (BESS) following which she joined Price Waterhouse, now PwC. She held a number of senior management roles with PwC, including responsibility for Partnership and Company Secretarial matters and Partner affairs. Mary is a member of the Foundation Board of the RDS and a Board Member of the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin. Previously, she Chairperson of the Board of Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dublin and a Board Member of Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
Job Titles:
- Director of Audit & Investigations
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Update on Ray Bowe Meeting With FSAI Board
- Chairman, ( RB ) Annette Sweeney, ( AS )
- Chairman, [RB]
- Musgraves [RB] ( Chair )
Ray Bowe was introduced to the FSCC committee and presented the following presentation prepared by Pat O'Mahony in which the following topics were covered:
Ray Bowe attended the November meeting of the FSAI Board. At this meeting he elaborated on:
Ray Bowe provided an update of the pre-emptive measures taken my Musgraves in advance of the restrictions announced by the Irish government, with a response team set up in February to prepare for all upcoming problems relating to the virus. Their priority was to maintain the supply chain, predict likely demand of certain items and deal with the increase or decrease at certain retail stores. Protective measures were implemented for all staff and customers to try and ensure safety for everybody and over 600 employees began remote working in March, with the long-term aim of a return to the office once it is safe to do so.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Food Authenticity & Integrity, Wageningen University [SVR
Job Titles:
- Poultry Expert
- Poultry Producer, ( SK ) ( from 11