FSAI Board Meeting Minutes - 17 June 2025

Present  

• Ms Ann Horan (AH) (Chair)
• Mr Patrick Knight (PK)
• Prof Martin Cormican (MC)
• Ms Lisa Manselli (LM)
• Ms Eilis O’Brien (EOB)
• Ms Carol Lynch (CL)
• Mr Martin Blake (MB)
• Prof Francis Butler (FB)
• Mr Gerard McCurdy (GMcC)
• Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan (CFN) (online)

In attendance

• Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive
• Ms Mary Maguire & Ms Brid Curren, Intrinsic Management (online presentation)    For item 2.0
• Dr Wayne Anderson, Director of Food Science and Standards    For item: 5.2
• Mr Kevin Roantree (KR), Director of Corporate Affairs, Head of Governance and CRO     For items: 5.1 and 6.1-6.4
• Mr Joe McQuaid, Finance and Planning Manager     For Item 6.1
• Ms Fiona Dwyer (FD), Board Secretary    

1.0    Board Matters

The Chair welcomed all attendees to the meeting, noting there was full attendance for the meeting. She thanked the Board for their participation in the facilitated session of the Board and SLT held earlier in the day. 

The Chair informed the Board that, following a discussion with Kevin Roantree, it was agreed to postpone his presentation on the Corporate Affairs until the October meeting in order to ensure that adequate time is given to his presentation.  

The Chair noted the changes made to the layout and format of the agenda and papers presented to the Board.  These changes have been agreed with the CEO with the intention to improve the information the Board receive for governance and decision-making purposes.

1.1    Declarations of Interest

MB informed the Board that he has been appointed as an Adjunct Full Professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine in UCD and has also been appointed to the Board of Animal Health Ireland (AHI). AHI is a not-for-profit organisation and a registered charity - it is a public private partnership, jointly funded by government and the agri-industry. Its mission is to contribute to an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable farming and agri-food sector, through improved animal health and welfare.

The Chair congratulated MB on his appointments and it was agreed that these roles do not pose a conflict in relation to his Board membership.  

1.2    Minutes of the last meetings: 13th May 2025

The Board approved the minutes of the meeting 13th May 2025 as tabled. 

1.3    Matters arising 

FD provided an update on open actions.

1.4    Review of the Board Workplan 

The Board reviewed the workplan, noting the postponement of KR’s presentation as previously discussed, and deemed it be on track as planned. 

2.0    Intrinsic Management presentation on the results of the staff survey

The Chair welcomed Mary McGuire and Brid Curren to the meeting to provide the Board with a presentation on the staff survey which was undertaken in December 2024.  She noted that she has requested the presentation focus on the main conclusions of the survey and recommendations for areas of development.

Following their presentation MMcG answered the questions of the Board.  The CEO outlined those areas where he intends to focus on improvement, and also advised that he anticipates that some actions will be progressed collaboratively with the Managers forum
Action: The full set of results for the staff survey will be posted to IBABS for the Board to review.

The Chair thanked MMcG an BC for their presentation. 

3.0    CEO Report 

The CEO provided an overview of his report.  The Board discussed the Total Diet Study, and the CEO updated the Board on its progress, noting that a request for tenders to facilitate the study has been issued. 

In response to a question, GD advised that while resourcing the hosting of foreign delegations can be an issue at times, the benefits to the FSAI were substantial, including increased visibility across government. There is an indirect benefit as Ireland will benefit where other countries have better food safety systems. 

4.0    Food Safety Control system 

4.1    Q1 Business Plan progress report 

The schedule of recent enforcement orders was noted by Board members. 

4.2    Audit, Incidents & Investigations Report 

The Board discussed the paper on Audit, Incidents & Investigations Report.

4.3    Prototype Performance Dashboard 

The CEO introduced the prototype dashboard, developed to provide stakeholders with a single view of activity, outputs and impact. The expectation is that this will provide assurance on the efficacy of the food control system and allow for targeted intervention and allocation of resources.   He noted that the dashboard will be tabled for the Board at their meetings and will be accompanied by a report which informs the Board of the key information that the dashboard is indicating.  

Board members provided suggestions and feedback on the prototype and welcomed the overall changes made to the layout and format of the of documents presented by the Executive. 

5.0    Delivery of Strategy

5.1 Q2 Progress Report 

KR provided an overview of the Q2 progress report which outlined that the organisation is delivering well on its plan. He noted that the executive was adopting a more conservative approach to consideration of the RAG status of actions.  He informed the Board that projects running behind schedule will be reviewed with a view to identifying actions to bring them back on track.  It was noted that some delays are arising in the implementation of the Business Plan due to resourcing issues.

The Board discussed the potential effect that the workload incurred by the FSAI for the EU presidency may have, and the impact it may have on FSAI’s ability to deliver the workplan.  
GD conceded that it might require a longer lead time for some of our reform projects, but the presidency was a key deliverable for the state and the organisation itself, and our 2026 plan would reflect this. He advised that it would likely be 2026 before we have a clearer picture of the demands of the presidency, as the state’s priorities would not be finalised until closer to the time.

The Q2 progress report will be shared with the Department of Health at the next governance meeting in July. 

5.2 Presentation from Wayne Anderson on strategic priority 5 - Increased collaboration with EFSA 

WA provided the Board with a presentation outlining how we currently collaborate and engage with EFSA and possible ways to strengthen this collaboration. WA and FB agreed to further discuss the potential for FSAI’s engagement with EFSA Fora. 

6.0 Organisational Matters 

6.1 Finance Report including Management Accounts  

The report was taken as read. Board members welcomed the improved layout and the level of detail within the document. 

The Board discussed the savings projected to arise, and the potential uses of these. GD confirmed that the proposed alternative spending was in line with the letter of allocation and discussions with the DoH.   

It was noted that the contract for the total diet study will be presented to the Board at an upcoming meeting.  

6.2 Governance Report 

The Board reviewed the completed “Form A: Compliance with Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies”, and subject to the agreed amendments the form will be signed by the Chair and CEO and returned to the Department of Health.   Appendix 1, which provides questions to consider under the provisions of the Code of Practice for the governance of state bodies, has been completed and will be uploaded to IBABS for the information of the Board.

The Board expressed their congratulations to the staff on successfully maintaining ISO accreditation following their recent two-day audit.  

6.3 Paper on Estimates process 

KR outlined the approach and framework for the FSAI 2026 Estimates Submission.  The Board agreed with the approach as outlined. 

6.4 Risk Register 

The Risk Register was taken as read.  It was noted that the Risk Management Framework will
be reviewed during July and August, with a revised approach being presented to the
Board and ARC in September.

7.0 Board Committee Updates 

7.1 Audit and Risk Committee

GMcC advised that there was no scheduled meeting of the ARC since the last Board meeting.  The next ARC meeting will take place on 9th September. 

He advised the Board that the contract with our current internal auditors ends in October.  The ARC will oversee the process for the selection of a new service provider. 

The Chair informed the Board that the annual appraisal of the ARC Chair has taken place, and she continues to be satisfied with and appreciative of the work of the ARC Chair and the members of the Committee. 

7.2 Performance & Remuneration Committee 

The Chair informed the Board that there was no scheduled meeting of the PRC since the last Board meeting.  The next PRC will be arranged for mid-August. 

7.3 Scientific Committee

MC informed the Board that there was no scheduled meeting of the Scientific Committee since the last Board meeting and provided an update on the status of the establishment of the next Scientific Committee.

7.3.1 Scientific Committee Declaration of Interest and Conflict of Interest Policy

8.0    AOB 

8.1 Governance Training survey – part of our Board Effectiveness Action Plan

The Chair noted that as part of our ongoing Board effectiveness review process Governance Training was an area that highlighted as possibly requiring attention this year. A short survey has been sent to the Board seeks to discover our current governance training needs.  
Action: The Board is asked to complete the governance training survey by the end of June. 

8.2 Board Skills Audit

The Board noted the proposed timeline for the Board skills audit.  The HR team will issue the survey in early July for completion by the end of July.  The results of the survey will be presented to the Board at their September meeting.
Action: The Board is asked to complete the skills audit survey by the end of July. 

8.3 Board Effectiveness External Review – update

FD informed the Board the that external consultant for the Board Effectiveness review will be appointed as required via an Office of Government Procurement framework in July.  The appointed consultant will conduct individual interviews with Board members and present their review to the Board at the December meeting.  

8.4 Feedback on IBABS

Board members discussed issues relating to the application.
Action: FD to contact IBABS for information regarding working offline. 

8.5 Review of Governance Documents

Action: FD will carry out a review of the Corporate Governance Framework, Code of Conduct and Terms of Reference for the Board over the summer. 

9.0 Private Session 

The Board members indicated they did not need to hold a private session.

Date of next meeting: 16th September 
 

FSAI Board Actions: June 2025

9 actions closed from the previous meeting on 13 May 2025

To Note: Actions raised by the Board will be placed into the Actions table and remain there until completed (or removed by request of the Chair). Once an action is completed it will be marked as such for one meeting prior to being removed.