Central Council Meeting
Clarion Hotel, IFSC, Dublin
11a.m. 5th December 2008
Attendance
Jennifer Shorten Hon Secretary, Stephen Murphy Hon Treasurer, Maurice Mulcahy Chairman,Shane Keane Deputy Chair, Conor Hayes Midland, Loraine Dowling Western Branch, Tara Wood North Eastern Branch, Maura Deely Western Branch, Sheila Lynch Mid Western Branch, Marie Dowling South Eastern, Mary Murphy South Eastern Branch, Adrian Sullivan Southern, Richard Willis North Eastern Branch, Ray McLoughlin North Western Branch, Emer McShea North Western Branch, Damien Lynch Eastern Branch.
Apologies Gillian Scahill Western Branch, Joan Deegan Midlands Branch.
Matters Arising
Any matters arising from September’s Central Council meeting were included on the agenda for further discussion.
Otherwise the minutes were:
Proposed by Adrian Sullivan Seconded by Emer McShea
Correspondence
Jennifer informed the meeting that most items of correspondence would be dealt with as part of the main Agenda.
In addition there was a letter from UCD asking us to complete a survey on the political activity of Irish Associations. Jennifer agreed to complete this.
There was also correspondence through the Eastern Branch regarding liaising with the RPII on the issue of radon. Marie McCarthy has contacted them with regards to submitting an article for the yearbook. Jennifer advised that she has contacted Mary Heery to see if she would be willing to act as the EHOA liaison with the RPII on the issue of Radon.
Treasurer’s report
Account Details
AIB Current Account €17,663.71 .
AIB Fixed Term Deposit Account €90,000.00. This is a new account opened in Mid November 2008 using funds previously in the AIB current account. Current interest rate is 4.5% fixed for 6 months.
AIB Subs Account €4,747.27.
Anglo Irish Bank 03 Account €100,000.00
Anglo Irish Bank 04 Account €234,770.07.
Four applications for membership were received. Jennifer queried one application from an individual involved in food safety training. She believes that the incorrect application form was used and that the applicant was in fact applying to be reinstated as a Private Licensed Tutor. They were previously a Private Licensed Tutor. A message had been left for the applicant to clarify this but no response had been received by today’s meeting.
Three other applications were assessed and ratified:
Patriece DempseyEastern Branch
Michelle HoranWestern Branch
Marie ClancyEastern Branch
Associate Membership
This matter was again brought to the table. Jennifer raised concerns following on from the application from the Private Licensed Tutor. Although she believes this to be a mistake a private licensed tutor may be entitled to Associate Membership and would therefore be in receipt of Minutes etc. The terms of the Memorandum of Association state that in order to be eligible for Assoc. Membership you shall hold some appointment that relates to environmental health administration approved by Central Council and/or any person fully qualified to hold a position of health Inspector, EHO or EH Inspector. A private licensed tutor that qualified as an eho may therefore be entitled to Assoc. membership. It is envisaged that there will be items on the agenda of future meeting that might directly relate to the licensed tutors group. Therefore, we need to be sure what information is being circulated amongst Associate Members.
It was therefore agreed at Central Council that all Associate Members will be handled by the Bray office and no longer by a Branch. They are not entitled to Minutes etc but are entitled to attend any event hosted by the EHOA. They are also entitled to a diary and yearbook.
Retired Membership
An application was received by a retired member for full membership of the EHOA. As they are no longer working they are not entitled to membership. There is also no Retired Member’s category. A response was sent by Stephen Murphy advising of this. They will be on the invite list for all events and will also be sent a diary.
The Eastern branch requested that Rosaleen Prendergast be included on the retired members list held by the bray office.
Maternity Leave
A query was raised by the Western branch regarding a member who will be taking maternity leave and was asking if subs for the period could be cancelled. It was agreed that subs could not be cancelled without a formal resignation. Therefore, if you are intending taking a leave of absence and do not wish to continue paying subs you shall therefore resign for that period and rejoin on your return.
Meeting Dates for 2009
DateLocation
Xx March Heraghty House followed by Yearbook Launch. Date to be decided following consultation with Marie McCarthy Editor.
25th JunePortlaoise – Heritage Hotel
24th SeptemberAthlone – Prince of Wales Hotel
4th DecemberDublin, Clarion IFSC – followed by the John Shelley Bursary. The decision was made by Central Council to keep this meeting to a Friday.
21st NovemberAGM Galway City – venue to be decided.
MOU with the HSE
The Special Committee with responsibility for researching this issue have circulated a draft document to all branches. Members are to reply with their thoughts to Ray McLoughlin NW Branch. Ray McLoughlin asked for feedback from the branches to determine initially if we should be going down this road.
Ray raised the following important issues:
The MOU is not a contract – we would not be a sole provider.
The EHOA should not be put to undue demands – it will not be possible to provide all eh training for the HSE.
It is however another potential income stream.
We need to be honest about what we can deliver.
Business Planning Day 2
Maurice wishes to have another business planning day with Central Council’s involvement. It is proposed to hold this meeting in January – date and location to be decided. This day will be an opportunity for Central Council to voice their opinions and concerns about where the EHOA are going; possible problems on the horizon (e.g. financial) and for a plan to be put in place on how best we should proceed as an Association and how we need to implement change in order to survive as a business.
IPCA
Jennifer has been in contact with the IPCA and has advised them that the EHOA are willing to participate in the writing of a food industry pest control advisory standard. This participation will be based on a working group that is open to any interested party and not just the 8 commercial businesses that make up the IPCA. Jennifer has contact a PEHO who has great experience in pest control to see if they will be interested in chairing this working group.
Web Site
The new site is at the final design stages and will be show cased at the next Licensed Tutors seminar which is planned for early 2009. Every member will have their own individual log in and password. This process has been very time consuming. It is expected that most correspondence will in future be through the web site and no longer by e mail circulation.
FETAC
Deirdre and Sheila are preparing the application and submitting it even though the planned training day did not go ahead. We may still need to attend a training day if there are problems with the application.
Conference 2009
Agreed date with NI CIEH is 21st May.
This year’s conference will be over 1 ½ days – 12 pm Thursday until 4 pm Friday.
A buffet lunch will be provided on both days.
Central Council decided that a dinner dance is the best option in order to keep people together.
Thursday:Start 12; lunch at 2 and conference until 6.
Friday:Start at 10, lunch at 1 and finish at 4.
The Officer Board will support the local branch in any way – the majority of work is managed by Deirdre. The local branch’s main involvement will be the provision of IT support during the conference. – a SOP will be provided to advise the local branch of what needs to be done before and during the conference. The local branch will be contacted before hotels are booked.
Intermediate Course
This item was on the agenda from the previous meeting. However it is not yet clear if there is scope for an intermediate course between the primary and management course.
Maura Deely raised an issue regarding the Management Course. There appears to be a significant failure rate in the course exam. The failed group includespersons of proven academic and/or managerial ability. Maura queried whether a review has been carried out to examine reasons for failure rate? Jennifer agreed to contact Mary Gorby NHP rep regarding this.
EHOA Awards
Maurice wishes to create an EHOA award that will recognise and applaud EH contribution. This will be an open award and not necessarily restricted to EHOA members.
There may be a Most Active branch award again recognising a significant contribution to EH.
A number of members are requested to work with Maurice to set criteria. Can branches can seek volunteers and reply to Jennifer? 3 members and Maurice should suffice.
It is envisaged that a medal will be awarded ion the name of some person and will be awarded as part of the JSB celebrations.
Student Branch
It has been proposed to organise a student branch within DIT in order to create interest amongst students. There is scope in the Memorandum of Association for this. We have lost contact with countless graduates who have not gained employment within the HSE and we are therefore losing out on a massive skill base.
The student branch can nominate a member who will have observer status at Central Council but no voting capabilities. They will pay a nominal fee and will also receive a diary and yearbook.
It was also proposed to place an ad in the DIT Alumni newsletter and/or Environmental Health News in the UK for graduates who are not working within the public sector but may be interested in applying for Associate Membership.
The Eastern Branch also extends an invite to DIT to their regular information seminars. Students were also invited to attend 2008 Conference in Killarney.
John Shelley Bursary
The 2008 JSB was awarded to the WH Five Loaves homeless project that has a base in Bray. They were proposed by the Eastern Branch and it was felt to be prudent to award the Bursary to a local Bray charity to coincide with the opening of Heraghty House. Maurice invited everyone to attend and enjoy the social event after the award.
Mutual Recognition
The agreement between EHOA and CIEH is out of date and out students are being affected. It is the opinion of some involved in this issue that CIEH are breaking the law. Another meeting is planned for January.
AOB
- Central Council agreed to an advertising budget of €5,000 for 2009. This will allow the incoming PRO the freedom to place ad’s for the food safety course in industry journals without need to seek approval for the Officer Board. We place regular ads in the 2 main industry guides – Hotel & Catering and Licensing World. We have also placed ads in Shelflife previously.
- There was a proposal to have the yearbook launch on a Friday. Again the date will be determined by the date the yearbook is ready and the availability of someone to launch it.
- It was proposed that we look more closely at the venue for AGM’s etc – it may encourage attendance by members if they are held in an area that has lots of local activities so partner’s can also attend.
- The Blue Book review has been on the agenda for some time now and needs to be moved on. A working group is needed. The group should consist of past members and should also include current members who will be around for the next 50 years of the Association. This matter will be discussed at January’s Business Planning meeting. Following this a request for volunteers will be circulated.
- The South Eastern branch expressed their thanks for the official opening of Heraghty House and the gratitude shown to Gerry Heraghty. A great day was had by all.
- The position of PRO is vacant. Any interested party can contact Jennifer for further information.
- A query was raised by the MW Branch regarding the holding of meetings during office hours. It was felt that evening meetings do not work. Other branches feel the same. Maurice is to write to Martin Devine to seek permission to hold these meetings during office hours.
- The NW branch thanked Ray McLoughlin for organising the AGM in Carrick on Shannon.
Meeting ends
Chairman ______
Proposed ______
Seconded ______
Date ______