Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has appointed several new members to the Food Safety Consultive Council (FSCC) of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

The FSCC debates food safety issues and provides advice to the FSAI on relevant areas.

The group meets regularly to examine aspects of the food chain from farm to fork, along with reviewing food safety initiatives.

Among the new appointments are representatives from Dawn Farm Foods, the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) and Keelings.

FSAI council

Nick Andrews has been head of food safety and quality at Dawn Farm Foods since 2011.

The company is one of Europe's leading suppliers of cooked and fermented meat ingredients.

Nick is a chartered engineer with a PhD in food safety, and has worked in manufacturing industry and management consultancy for over 35 years.

He is also an adjunct lecturer with University College Dublin (UCD) having collaborated with the Centre for Food Safety (UCD-CFS) on scientific research projects for the past 18 years.

Alice Doyle, IFA deputy president, has also been appointed to the council.

A beef and tillage farmer from Co. Wexford, Alice has a background in agriculture, education and rural community development.

She is also a member of the Teagasc Authority.

Pat Farrell, head of operations at Keelings, has extensive experience across Ireland's food and agri-food sector.

This includes senior roles in primary food production, food quality, food safety, horticulture and industry policy.

During his career, he has worked closely with the FSAI, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Teagasc and Bord Bia on issues relating to food production, standards, regulation and the development of the Irish food sector.

Pat is currently chair of the Irish Soft Fruit Growers Association (ISFGA), along with being a member of the IFA horticulture committee and the Horticulture Industry Forum (HIF).

Appointments

Professor Alan Kelly, a professor in food science and technology at University College Cork (UCC), has also been appointed to the council.

His teaching responsibilities include food processing and preservation, dairy product technology and new food product development.

He leads a research group on the chemistry and processing of milk and dairy products and has published over 400 research papers, review articles and book chapters.

In July 2026, he was appointed to one of the most senior academic positions in UCC, as interim head of the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science.

The new appointments also include Claire Kilty, head of research at the Irish Cancer Society.

A key area of her work focuses on combating cancer misinformation, with a particular emphasis on nutrition, diet, and food-related health claims.

Janis Morrissey is deputy chief executive and director of services at the Irish Heart Foundation where she provides strategic leadership across health promotion and patient services, advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

Originally qualified as a registered dietitian, she has more than 25 years’ experience working at the intersection of food, nutrition, health policy and public health.

She also holds an masters in european food regulatory affairs.

Chef Phil Smith works as the operations manager SPADE Shared Kitchen.

He has supported more than 80 small food businesses that have operated through the project.

Building on this experience and along with the team at SPADE Phil is now developing the SPADE Food Accelerator, a new programme designed to provide early-stage food entrepreneurs with practical, hands-on support to help them develop, grow and progress their businesses.