FSAI Board Meeting Minutes - 3 February 2026

Present

• Ms Ann Horan (AH) (Chair)
• Mr Patrick Knight (PK) 
• Ms Lisa Manselli (LM)
• Ms Carol Lynch (CL)
• Mr Gerard McCurdy (GMcC)
• Dr Helen Roche (HR)
• Mr Martin Blake (MB)
• Prof Martin Cormican (MC) 
• Ms Eilis O’Brien (EOB) (online)

In attendance

• Mr Greg Dempsey (GD), Chief Executive
• Mr Kevin Roantree (KR), Director of Corporate Affairs, Head of Governance and CRO     For items: 5 & 7
• Ms Michelle Minihan (MM), Director of Audit, Incidents and Investigations     For item 2
• Ms Eilis O’Connell, Ms Niamh Cunningham and Ms Carla Swinland, Indecon     For item 6.4
• Ms Fiona Dwyer (FD), Board Secretary 

Apologies

• Prof Francis Butler (FB)

1.0    Board Matters

The Chair welcomed the attendees to the first Board meeting of the year.  She noted that FB has sent his apologies for the meeting and EOB will join the meeting online. 

She congratulated LM and EOB on their re-appointment to the Board for a further 5 years and thanked them for agreeing to serve another term. She noted that this is the last Board meeting for MC as the term of the current Scientific Committee ends at the end of February 2026. 

1.1    Declarations of Interest

There were no conflicts of interest declared.  
Action: FD will send a reminder to Board members yet to submit their Declarations of Interest and Statements of Ethics for 2025, before sending the FSAI submission to SIPO. 

1.2    Minutes of the last meetings: 2nd December 2025

The Board approved the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd December 2025, as tabled. 

1.3    Matters arising 

It was noted that all actions from the previous meeting have been closed.

1.4    Review of the Board Workplan 

The Board reviewed the workplan and noted that the plan is on track.  

1.5     Update on Governance Training 

FD informed the Board that she, the Chair and KR met with representatives from the IPA to agree the training session plan. The training date has been confirmed as 16th February 2026. 

2.0    CEO Report 

The CEO’s report was taken as read.

MM was invited to join the meeting to report on the ongoing response to a contaminated ingredient in infant formula. The Board commended the work of the staff in relation to their management of the recall.  MM informed the Board that to date there has been no confirmed cases of related illness in Ireland, however the incident is ongoing and the Board will continue to be kept up to date in relation to the issue. 
GD informed the Board that he, and Michelle, are due to meet with Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor on 4th February to update her on the incident, and the FSAI response. 
GD confirmed that FSAI have been invited to a scheduled meeting of Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food on 11th February on the topic food labelling. The Board discussed the approach to preparation for, and presentation at, the Committee. 
The Chair noted the many initiatives highlighted within the CEO report including the FSAI involvement in the Young Scientist Exhibition, the Food Reformulation Task Force and the Research Ireland Fellowship programme which demonstrate positive and proactive engagement with external stakeholders.  She suggested that we may consider presentations on some of these type of initiatives at future Board meetings.
Actions: Inclusion of presentations from staff on the Board workplan to be discussed by the Chair and CEO at their next Board preparation meeting. 

3.0    Oversight Agreement and Performance Delivery Agreement (OA/PDA)

Board members welcomed the revisions to the Oversight and Performance Delivery Agreements.  Following discussion, it was agreed to approve the OA and PDA, subject to no substantive changes arising from the governance meeting with the Department of Health scheduled for 10th February. 

4.0    Food Safety Control System 

4.1 Enforcement Orders 

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

GD provided an updated on an appeal against a closure order issued on a food takeaway business in Limerick in October 2025.  The case was adjourned by the District Court until 5th March 2026. The Board will be provided with a further update at their March meeting. 

4.2 Audit, Incidents & Investigations Report 

The Board discussed the paper on Audit, Incidents & Investigations Report and noted the recent incident in relation to the EU Commission recall of contaminated beef imported from Brazil.

4.3 & 4.4 Prototype Performance Dashboard 

The Board noted the Performance Dashboard.  

5.0    Delivery of Strategy  

5.1 Business Plan 2025 Q4 report 

The Board discussed the year end Business Plan report in detail.  They welcomed the new reporting style and agreed that it highlighted an impressive body of work and gave an understanding of the complexity of the work and how all staff members contribute to the delivery of the strategic plan as well as the FSAI’s business as usual work.  Overall Board members were satisfied with the progress made in 2025.

5.2     Business Plan 2026

The Board reviewed and approved the Business Plan 2026 as tabled, subject to no substantive changes following the governance meeting with the DoH on 10th February and to funds allocated by the Department being in line with expectations.

6.0 Board and Statutory Committees 

6.1 Performance & Remuneration Committee (PRC)

The Chair noted that the PRC had not met since the last Board meeting. 

6.2 Scientific Committee

MC informed the Board that the report on Food Based dietary guidelines for Adolescents has been finalised and is now in the period of review and reflection by the Committee whereby any final views can be expressed by close of business on 4th February. Similarly, the report on Control of Hepatitis E has been agreed and will enter a period of review and reflection by the Committee.

The Board agreed that MC be invited to join the Board meeting on 30th March 2026 to present the two reports.  He informed the Board that a further two meetings have been scheduled for February with the aim of finalising the reports on Mitigation measures for dioxins & PCBs in terrestrial farm animals with access to outdoor pastures and the report on Hygiene rating schemes.

The Chair asked that MC convey the thanks and appreciation of the Board to the Scientific Committee, the Sub-committees and Working Groups and FSAI staff who are working hard to complete all outstanding work within the remaining term of the Committee.

6.3 Audit and Risk Committee (ARC)

The Chair of the ARC provided an update on their recent meeting, acknowledging progress against outstanding actions. He also, having met the new auditor, expressed confidence in their proposed approach.

6.4 Results of the Board Effectiveness Review – Online Presentation by Indecon

The Chair welcomed EOC, NC and CS to the meeting.  She thanked them for a very comprehensive report and invited them to present the results of their Board Effectiveness Review to the Board. 

EOC thanked all who participated in the review for their positive engagement in the process. Following the presentation the Board held a discussion on the recommendations of the report.  

The Board expressed their overall satisfaction with the findings of the report.

Action: A list of the recommendations from the report will be drafted for discussion by the Board at their March meeting, after which a short list of actions will be agreed for implementation. 

7.0 Organisational Matters (7.1-7.4) is a single paper)

The reports were taken as read and the Executive addressed queries by Board members.

The Board reviewed the governance report and the Data Protection Officer Annual Report to the Board and thanked the Governance and Information Manager for her very comprehensive reports.

The Chair suggested that the G&I Manager join a future ARC meeting to present on the work of her team. 

In line with the FSAI’s procurement policy there were a number of procurements and contracts tabled, which require Board approval, due to the level of expenditure involved.  Approval was sought and given by the Board to proceed with the following procurements and the Board delegated the sign off of the contracts to the CEO.

The following contracts were approved by the Board:

• Central Intelligence Hub – procurement of licence for an existing system to support the delivery of AI&I’s investigation and audit activities. This licencing will cost approximately €350k over 7 years, with scope to expand the services provided by this software during this period.
• Facilities and Front of House services – current supplier (Apleona) provides facilities support to manage repairs and maintenance to the FSAI’s offices, in line with our obligations under the lease for the Exchange. The current contract also covers the provision of front of house/reception services to mitigate staff turnover as well as cover or leave. The contract expires in June 2026 and the proposal is for a 5 year contract. The cost of this contract is approximately €1.65 million over the term of the contract (€330k per annum).
• IT support services – there are currently two IT positions that are essential to on-going business operations that are subject to procurement in 2026.  The total cost of these contracts is expected to be €1.62 million over the course of the 5 year contract period (€324k per annum).
• IT Licences – the FSAI uses Microsoft applications to support service delivery. The FSAI is required to re-procure for these licences. The expected contract will be for 4 years with an expected expenditure of up to €400k.

8.0 AOB

8.1 Chairpersons comprehensive report to the Minister 

The Board noted the Chairperson’s comprehensive letter to the Minister which was provided by way of information to the Board members.

8.2 Governance Forum Events Programme 2026

The Board noted the IPA Governance Forum Programme of events for 2026.  FD will send reminders for events as they arise. Board members can book directly or notify FD of any events they would like to attend. 

8.3 Board Away meeting July 2026

Action: FD to send out a doodle poll to check availability for a change of date for the July Board meeting. 

The Chair, noting that this was Martin Cormican’s last meeting as a member of the Board expressed her thanks to Martin for his many years of service to the FSAI, dating back to the establishment of the FSAI in 1999.  

Martin in return thanks his fellow board members and staff of the FSAI for assisting him to carry out his duties as Chair of the Scientific Committee. 

Private Session 

The Executive left and the Board members held a private session.

The meeting concluded at 1.15pm.

Date of next meeting: 30th March 2026

FSAI Board Actions: February 2026

7 actions closed from the previous meeting on December 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.