New Chairperson Appointed at AGM

New Chairperson Appointed at AGM

On Wednesday 1 June 2016, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick (SDLP) was appointed as Chairperson for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council at its second Annual General Meeting in the Downshire Civic Centre.

Upon taking the Chain of the First Citizen, Councillor Fitzpatrick said, “It is a great privilege and honour to be appointed Chair of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.  I am humbled to have been elected to be my community’s representative and I know that they too will share in my pride and honour this evening as I become Chair of Council.”

She continued, “I am honoured to represent the people of the district as First Citizen.  Regardless of religious or political belief, regardless of social background or whether young or old, I give my word today to be the Chair of Council for everyone and for all that our district has to offer.”

Speaking about the year ahead Councillor Fitzpatrick said, “My key priority for the year ahead is to promote our district as the best place to invest, work and live.  As Civic Leaders, we have a duty to all to work together and build a dynamic new economy.  We must support new businesses that want to set up in our district.  We must support our local and existing businesses to grow and develop.  We can do this by working with local trade, tourism and business representatives and our education authorities.

“My final priority is to inspire people to play their full part in civic society, especially our young people.  It is unacceptable to me that so many of our young people are forced to leave these shores in search of work or a sustainable livelihood.  We need to make our district the place they and many others want to settle down in.”

Councillor Fitzpatrick concluded by thanking her party for putting her forward for the position and finally by welcoming on board Councillor Garth Craig (DUP), who was appointed as the new Vice-Chairperson.

Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Craig said, “Firstly I would like to congratulate Gillian on becoming the First Citizen of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, as Deputy Chair I will do what I can to support her in her new role.”

“We have an ambitious and exciting Corporate Plan for our district and I look forward to working with members and officers to make meaningful progress on our strategic objectives of Tourism, the Economy and improving the health and wellbeing of our citizens.  If we all put our citizens first, and keep that in our focus then we’ll not go far wrong.”

He concluded, “Finally I would like to thank my party for putting their trust in me.”