Board of the National Consumer Agency
The board of the National Consumer Agency (NCA) boasts a wide range of expertise, and includes economists, business people, legal experts, consultants and consumer representatives. The members of the board are:
Steven Costello (chair)
Steven Costello was appointed chairperson of the NCA in May 2007. He is a former chief executive of Marks & Spencer in Ireland, having started his career with the company in 1972. He was appointed chairman of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland in January 2003. Previously, he chaired a range of other bodies including Business in the Community Ireland. He is also a past executive and council member of Dublin Chamber of Commerce.
Ann Fitzgerald
Ann Fitzgerald is the chief executive, having previously chaired the NCA on an interim basis. She is a former chief executive of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. She was Chair of the CSG.
Inez Bailey: Director, National Adult Literacy Agency
Inez Bailey , a graduate of NUI Maynooth, is director of the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA). She has worked extensively in the area of adult and community education, in which area she holds a higher diploma, as well as a masters degree in history. She is co-author of Access and Participation in Adult Literacy Schemes.
Marie Barry Ring, Consumer Representative and Community Activist
Marie Barry Ring has been involved in voluntary work with her local community for many years. She spent 20 years working with the St Vincent De Paul Society in Cork and has been a volunteer with the Blackrock Citizens Information Centre for the past 14 years.
Celia Larkin, Businesswoman
Celia is the proprietor of Beauty at Blue Door, a successful beauty salon business. She is also currently on the board of the voluntary housing agency, Cara.
Deirdre McDonnell, Busineswoman
Deirdre McDonnell is managing director of OTS Ltd, which specialises in the provision of health and safety training to public bodies, semi-state bodies and multinationals. She is active in the Limerick Chamber of Commerce and local charities.
Neilus Moriarty, Consumer Representative and Community Activist
Neilus is involved in many community and voluntary organisations in the Killarney area and currently manages direct provision accommodation centres for asylum seekers and refugees in Killarney. He is a past chairman of the South West Regional Tourism Board.
William Prasifka, Chairperson, The Competition Authority
William Prasifka took up his position as Chairperson of the Competition Authority in April 2006. Prior to this, he held the position of Commissioner for Aviation Regulation, from 1999 to 2006. He is a member of the Bar of the State of New York, holds his Bachelor of Arts degrees and Doctorate of Law (J.D.) from Columbia University School of Law, New York and studied law and economics at the University of Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois.
William also holds the position of deputy chairman of the Fullbright Commission and is president of the Irish Czech and Slovak Society.
Dr Edward Shinnick, Academic
Edward Shinnick received his PhD from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow and is now a senior lecturer in Economics at University College Cork. His research areas include competition in markets and industries, competition policy and regulation. He has also conducted consultancy work and economic studies for both industry and policy bodies.
Robin O'Sullivan, Businessman
Robin is Chairman of O'Sullivan PR and has been a public relations practitioner since l969, following twelve years as a journalist and broadcaster with The Cork Examiner and RTE.
He has served as a board member of the Irish Film Board; director of the Cork Film Festival; and is a member of the Cork group of the Institute of Personnel Management. He is a past president of Chambers Ireland. In December 2003 he was made an Honorary Life Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland.
Patrick Desmond, Consumer Representative
Patrick Desmond has been employed in the private sector, health care industry for 21 years. He is an active member of the Cork Lions Club and is also involved with the Cork County Board of the GAA on a voluntary basis.