Appointments of Councillor Members to the Board of Libraries NI

The Department for Communities has announced the appointment of three new Councillor Members to the Board of Libraries NI from 1 March 2023 until the date of the local council elections in 2027 (subject to their re-election in 2023 Local Government elections):

• Cllr Peter Johnston
• Cllr Andrew McAuley
• Clr Martin McRandal

The primary duty of the Northern Ireland Library Authority (known as Libraries NI), as set down in the Libraries Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, is to provide a comprehensive and efficient public Library service for persons living, working or studying in Northern Ireland.

Notes to editors: 

1. Libraries NI is an arm’s-length body of the Department for Communities. In line with the Libraries Act (NI) 2008, the Libraries NI Board can comprise of a Chair and up to 18 members.
2. The member position receives remuneration of £3,030 per annum plus travel and subsistence allowances in line with Northern Ireland Civil Service rates.
3. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland’s (CPA NI) Code of Practice. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, CPA NI requires the political activity of appointees to be published.
4. Biographies of new Councillor Members:
   

   1. Cllr Martin McRandal - Cllr McRandal is an elected representative on Ards and North Down Council and is an active member of the Alliance Party in the local area. He is a Chartered Insurance Practitioner and Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute. He brings a range of skills to the Board including policy and strategy development, and financial experience. He has also been a Scout Group leader. He holds no other public appointments.

   2. Cllr Andrew McAuley - Cllr McAuley is an elected representative on Antrim and Newtownabbey Council, having served as Chair of the Council’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, and is an active member of the Alliance Party in the local area. Through his role as Operations Director in his family-run commercial business, he brings a range of organisational, project management and human resources skills to the Board. He holds no other public appointments.

   3. Cllr Peter Johnston - Cllr Johnston is an elected representative on Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, on which he has served as Mayor, and is an active member of the Democratic Unionist Party in the local area. His background is in the business sector, having been a Business Manager, and was the Chair of a local charity. He brings a range of skills to the Board including governance and accountability experience, and financial experience. He holds no other public appointments.

5.  For media queries contact the Department for Communities press office via email 

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7.  The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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