Newry, Mourne and Down councillors are appointed to the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority board

The appointment for SDLP representative, Laura Devlin, will take effect from June 1, 2024 while independent councillor for Crotlieve, Jarlath Tinnelly’s appointment will be effective from August 22, 2024. Both appointments will be for a maximum of four years.

The Authority has responsibility, under a series of Harbour Acts and Orders, for developing, maintaining, and operating Warrenpoint Port to the highest standards of efficiency, financial prudence, environmental awareness, safety, and security to the benefit of all stakeholders.

Minister O’Dowd said: “I am pleased to announce the appointments of Laura Devlin and Jarlath Tinnelly to these important roles.”

Warrenpoint Harbour Authority currently have a membership of a Chair, two Executive Members, three Non-Executive Members and two Councillor Non-Executive Members. The Members of the WHA Board currently receive remuneration of £8,275.92 per annum.

Councillors are appointed to the Board in line with the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 and can only serve as a Board Member if they remain a member of the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. The appointment is up to a maximum of four years.

Laura Devlin has been a Councillor since 2013. She has been a member of the SDLP since 1999 and has worked for the party on a full-time basis for over 20 years. Laura is the party’s Spokesperson on Tourism and Hospitality and the current Group Leader on Council. She served as Mayor of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in the first year of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Laura also works for Colin McGrath MLA in South Down as his Constituency Manager and is a Non-Executive Member on the Board of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, which attracts an annual renumeration of £6,643.

Jarlath Tinnelly serves as an Independent councillor on Newry Mourne & Down District Council. He was first elected in May 2014 and represents the Crotlieve District Electoral Area which includes Warrenpoint. An employee of Translink, Jarlath is currently the vice chairperson of the council’s planning committee and is also a member of the Economic Regeneration & Tourism committee.