Present
- Ms Ann Horan (AH) (Chair)
- Mr Patrick Knight (PK)
- Ms Lisa Manselli (LM)
- Ms Eilis O’Brien (EOB)
- Mr Martin Blake (MB)
- Prof Francis Butler (FB)
- Mr Gerard McCurdy (GMcC)
In attendance
- Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive
- Mr Kevin Roantree (KR), Director of Corporate Affairs, Head of Governance and CRO (For items: 5.3 to 7.3)
- Dr Michelle Minihan (MM) Director of Audit, Incidents and Investigation (For items 3.5 & 4.1)
- Mr Joe McQuaid, Finance and Planning Manager For Items 5.3 to 7.3
- Ms Fiona Dwyer (FD), Board Secretary
Apologies
- Ms Carol Lynch (CL)
- Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan (CFN)
- Prof Martin Cormican (MC)
1.0 Board Matters
The Chair welcomed all attendees to the meeting, noting apologies from CL, CFN and MC. She noted that this would have been CFN’s last Board meeting as she reaches her maximum permitted term in October. Board members were pleased with the proposal to invite CFN to the next Board meeting on 4th November to thank her for service on the Board and invite her to give her reflections on her time on the Board and her long association with the FSAI.
The Chair provided an overview of the agenda and confirmed that MM will join for items 3.5 and 4.1 and KR and JMcQ will join for the ARC meeting update and Governance and Finance updates.
The Chair and CEO updated Board members on their meeting with the Chair, CEO and Northern Ireland Director of the UK Food Standards Agency in Belfast on 15th September.
1.1 Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations.
1.2 Minutes of the last meetings: 17th June 2025
The Board approved the minutes of the meeting 17th June 2025 as tabled.
1.3 Matters arising
FD updated the Board on the status of the open actions.
1.4 Review of the Board Workplan
FD provided an update on the workplan and confirmed that the Board is on schedule to complete the plan for 2025.
FD is liaising with IT to arrange for Board members to receive training on the Business Continuity plan. The Board confirmed that they would be open to holding this training on the day of the November Board meeting if this is suitable for the trainers.
Action: FD to confirm a date for the Board Business Continuity Training.
It was noted that the Chairpersons letter to the Minister has been pushed out due to the late commencement of the C&AG audit. The Chair confirmed that this will be sent when the audit cert is received from the office of the C&AG.
Action: The draft workplan for 2026 will be circulated to the Board for discussion at the November meeting.
1.5 Results of the Governance Training Survey
The Chair noted that 7 responses were received to the governance training survey. Most respondents indicated that they would be interested in an FSAI specific board training session with no strong preference for who should provide the training. In general, the responses indicated a preference for in-person training.
Action: FD to draft a tender proposal for submission to providers, for a 2-3 hour in person governance training session tailored to the needs to the Board. The training will take place in January 2026. A poll for members availability dates will be circulated to the Board
1.6 Board and ARC Skills Audit
The Board reviewed the results of the survey tabled at the meeting. The Chair thanked all Board members for completing the survey. She noted that the new Board member, Professor Helen Roche, who will join on 7th October 2025 had also completed the survey. The findings of the survey showed a strong and diverse skill set. The Board has skills and expertise across the full range of areas identified as well as a significant range of additional skills that can benefit the FSAI. Overall, there were no gaps identified, and the survey confirmed thar the Board has the appropriate skills to carry out its duties as required under the Code of Practice for the governance of state bodies.
The Chair noted that as with the Board, the conclusion of the ARC skills survey was that the ARC also has the appropriates skills and experience needed to carry out their functions and there were no significant gaps identified.
1.7 Update on the Board Effectiveness review
FD informed the Board that the services of Indecon were procured via the OGP framework to
carry out the external Board Effectiveness Review. Surveys will be issued in October. Indecon will interview all Board members, the CEO, Board Secretary and will also hold a collective interview with Executive Directors. Interviews are expected to commence in mid to late November. The interviews will be online and should take no more than an hour to complete.
1.8 Review of SLT and Board Facilitated Session with Frank Munnelly
The Board reviewed notes received from Frank Munnelly outlining the outcome of the facilitated session of the Board and SLT held on 17th June 2025. It was agreed to set up a subgroup to review the findings and create an action plan. LM and PK volunteered to represent the Board on the subgroup, KR and another director, (to be confirmed), will represent the SLT. The group will report back to the Board before the end of the year.
Action: FD to arrange a meeting of the facilitated session action plan sub group (KR, other SLT member, LM and PK
2.0 CEO Report
The CEO provided an overview of his report and the Chair complimented him on behalf of Board members for the quality, tone and content of his report.
The Board requested additional information on the work of the seconded employee from the Environmental Health Service of the HSE. GD informed the Board that the seconded employee will be involved in working with FSAI to improve controls, the regulatory roadmap and ecommerce. A report will be produced on learnings and contributions following the secondment.
Board members discussed food system resilience in the context of recent geopolitical events, which GD noted is a theme that comes up regularly at the various food safety fora. He updated the Board on his discussions with DAFM in this area and will continue to keep the Board updated on this important topic.
Following a query on the school hot meals programme GD provided an update on the work FSAI is undertaking, as part of the Interdepartmental working group, to assist providers of the programme in small rural schools.
The Chair congratulated the CEO on his appointment to the Board of EFSA.
3.0 Food Safety Control System3.1 Enforcement Orders
The schedule of recent enforcement orders was noted by Board members.
3.2 Audit, Incidents & Investigations Report
The Board discussed the paper on Audit, Incidents & Investigations Report.
Action: GD to circulate Professor Wall’s Report on Equine Identification, Registration, and Traceability in Ireland to the Board.
3.3 & 3.4 Prototype Performance Dashboard
GD introduced the latest iteration of the Performance Dashboard and updated the Board on plans to work with the Official Agencies to streamline and categorise data to improve the outputs of the dashboard. The dashboard is a work in progress and is already starting to highlight information of interest to the FSAI and the Board.
3.5 Presentation from Michelle Minihan on the Listeria Outbreak
MM gave a presentation on the recent listeria outbreak. She noted that an internal review and lessons learned report was completed internally on 5th September and a suite of actions and recommendations were developed and signed off by the SLT. FSAI’s advice on ready-to-heat food is being revised. She noted that the outbreak control team will also carry out a review. The Board emphasised the need for a timely review by the Outbreak Control Team and the production of a final report."
The Board discussed the communications to the public during the outbreak. It was agreed that this went well as it highlighted clearly what was included in the recall, reminded the consumer of the recommendations regarding ready-to-heat foods and provided assurances while being limited by the constraints of the ongoing investigation. This will be further reviewed as part of our communications strategy.
The Chair thanked MM and all involved for their work on the outbreak and for a very clear and comprehensive presentation.
4.0 Delivery of Strategy
4.1 Presentation from Michelle Minihan on the coordinated and consistent management of incidents and crises
MM provided a presentation on the strategic priority for the coordinated and consistent management of incidents.
LM suggested that when a service provider has been selected for the project to define an optimum organisational model, the following is considered.
- ask vendor to think about end outcomes: business case to department potentially for additional resources: making sure this rationale is part of deliverable
- provide parameters upfront to inform options generated (e.g. risk appetite, proportionate, public value for money, net neutral headcount, taking account of AI etc)
LM noted that she is happy to assist if needed.
5.0 Board and Statutory Committees
5.1 Performance & Remuneration Committee
The Chair informed the Board that the Committee met on 11th August to carry out the first interim review of the CEO’s performance.
She noted that at the meeting the Committee thanked the CEO for his commitment and progress to date and noted that he has made a strong start in the role. She suggested that if Board members wished for further information at this stage, the review could be discussed in the private session.
Action: The minutes of the of the last meeting 18th March were approved and will be posted for viewing by Board members.
5.2 Scientific Committee
No update provided at the meeting.
5.3 Audit and Risk Committee
GMcC provided an update on the last meeting of the ARC held on the 9th September 2025. He noted that representatives from the Office of the C&AG joined the meeting and had commented on a positive engagement with the FSAI staff during their audit. He noted that there were no significant findings from the audit, however the issue of a qualified opinion relating to FRS 102 remained as no resolution of the issue had been agreed with the Department of Health. He confirmed that the ARC is recommending the Draft Annual Financial Statements and SIC for approval by the Board.
GMcC confirmed that the Risk Framework, Risk Management Policy and Risk Register tabled at the Board meeting had been reviewed by the ARC and they are recommending the Risk Framework and Risk Management Policy for approval by the Board.
6.0 Organisational Matters (6.1 ,6.2, 6.3)
The reports were taken as read and the Executive addressed queries by Board members.
In relation to the communications graphs, EO’B recommended that the Communications Team look at the statistics for engagement by social media followers.
6.4 2024 Draft Annual Financial Statements including Statement on Internal Control
The Board approved the 2024 Draft Annual Financial Statements including the amendments from PK and AH subject to no other significant changes AH and GD were nominated as signatories for the statements.
6.5 Presentation by Greg Dempsey on the work of the CEO Office
GD provided an overview of the work of his functional area. The Chair thanked the CEO for his informative presentation.
7.0 Risk Management
7.1 Risk Management Framework
KR informed the Board that over the summer months the SLT completed a review of the FSAI’s Risk Management Framework aiming to improve alignment with strategic and business objectives, enhance compliance with governance requirements and further embed a risk management culture. The new framework will also further clarify roles, responsibilities and ownership, strengthen assurance and oversight and drive continuous improvement.
Noting the recommendation of the ARC, the Board Approved the Risk Framework
7.2 Risk Management Policy
The Board reviewed the Revised Risk Management Policy and noting the recommendation of the ARC the Board approved the revised Risk Management Policy.
7.3 Risk Register
The Board reviewed the revised risk register and agreed with the changes.
Action: The Board requested that the register capture both the term and the numbers within the legend.
8.0 Review of Governance Documents
The Board discussed the changes to the Code of Conduct and Terms of Reference documents. It was agreed that additional work was needed to align the documents.
Action: FD and FB to review and revise the documents
9.0 AOB
9.1 IBABS
The Board noted the update received for working offline on IBABS application and agreed to send any additional queries to FD to address.
9.2 Appointment to the ARC
The Chair informed the Board that following Cliodhna Foley Nolans departure from the Board in October 2025 a vacancy will arise on the ARC. She outlined the process for the selection of a new ARC member and based on these criteria; she proposed that LM be invited to join the ARC. The Board supported her proposal and LM accepted the position.
Action: FD to draft a formal letter to LM outlining the terms of her appointment to the ARC and include the dates for all scheduled meetings. She will also provide her with access to the ARC section of IBABS and ensure that she receives appropriate induction training for the role.
Private Session
The Executive left and the Board members held a private session.
The meeting concluded at 1.15pm.
Date of next meeting: 4th November 2025