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The Commission

The Planning Appeals Commission, often referred to as the PAC, is an independent appellate body established under statute to deal with a wide range of land use planning issues and related matters.

The Commission's vision is to:

• provide a fair, efficient and effective appellate service to the public
• apply expertise and experience to information gathered through the process
• contribute to the quality of our environment by making the best possible decisions.

The Commission is an independent appellate body and is not part of the Department of the Environment or any other government Department. Like other tribunals we operate on the principles of openness, fairness and impartiality. Our aims and objectives are to provide an efficient and effective service and to make the best possible decisions on the basis of the information available to us. For more information on the aims, objectives and work of the Commission see the Chief Commissioner's Annual Report and Corporate and Business Plans on our publications page. The aim of this web site is to improve understanding of the appeals system.

This web site also includes information on the Water Appeals Commission.

We seek to continually improve the quality of our service and welcome comments on the appeals system and work of the Commission. Please let us know your views by using the contact us page.

The PAC is made up of commissioners appointed by the First and Deputy First Ministers under Article 110(2) of The Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.

Commissioners are not Civil Servants but are appointed following open public competition. At present the Commission has twenty permanent Commissioners and two Panel Commissioners.

Chief Commissioner

Elaine Kinghan was appointed Chief Commissioner on 27 January 2012 having joined the Commission in October 1998 as a Commissioner. She was appointed Senior Commissioner in March 2002, Principal Commissioner in January 2004 and Deputy Chief Commissioner in September 2006. Prior to becoming a member of the Commission she worked as a planner with the Housing Executive and Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. She holds a BA from Trinity College Dublin, an MSc from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, and is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Deputy Chief Commissioner

Trevor Rue was appointed Deputy Chief Commissioner on 23 July 2012, having joined as a Commissioner in 1997.  He was appointed Principal Commissioner  in March 2000.  Before joining the Commission he worked for 22 years in the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. He holds a MA from Trinity College Dublin, a Diploma in Town and Country Planning from Queen's University Belfast and is a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Principal Commissioners

Marion McCabe was appointed Principal Commissioner in April 2004 having joined the Commission in October 1998 as a Commissioner. She was appointed Senior Commissioner in March 2002. She was employed by the Department of the Environment from 1973 until becoming a member of the Commission. She obtained a BA Degree from Queen's University Belfast and she holds a Master of Arts in Town and Country Planning from the University of Nottingham. She is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

George Scott was appointed Principal Commissioner on 20 November 2006 having joined the Commission in January 2001 as a Commissioner. He was appointed Senior Commissioner in June 2004. He previously worked as a planning officer with Planning Service of the Department of the Environment since 1985. Prior to that he worked as a planner with Aberdeen City Council. He graduated from Herriot-Watt University with a BSc in Town and Country Planning and is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Aidan McCooey was appointed Principal Commissioner in April 2008 having joined the Commission in April 2001. He holds a BA Degree in Natural Sciences from Trinity College, Dublin and an MSc in Town and Country Planning from Queen's University, Belfast. He is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Institute of Management. Prior to joining the Commission he held various posts with Blaenau Gwent Borough Council and Monmouth District Council.

Sean O'Hare was appointed Principal Commissioner in April 2008 having joined the Commission in October 1998. Prior to becoming a member of the Commission he worked for the Department of the Environment Planning Service. He holds a BA Degree from University College, Dublin and a Diploma in Town Planning and is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Senior Commissioners

Andrew Speirs joined the Commission in June 2002 and became a Senior Commissioner in February 2007. Prior to joining the Commission he worked as a planner in Clydesdale District Council and Planning Service, Department of the Environment. He holds a BSc in Environmental Science from the New University of Ulster, an MSc in Town and Country Planning from Queen’s University Belfast and a postgraduate diploma in Organisation and Manpower Studies. He is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Julie de-Courcey joined the Commission in November 2003 and became a Senior Commissioner in January 2008. Before joining the Commission she previously worked with Donegal County Council, the Department of the Environment Planning Service, Omagh District Council and Mendip District Council, Somerset. She holds a BSc degree in Geography and Environmental Studies from Manchester Polytechnic, a Master’s Degree in Town and Country Planning from Manchester University, an LLB Bachelor of Laws degree from the Open University and is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Brian Martin was appointed to the Commission in January 2001 and became a Senior Commissioner in April 2008. He began his planning career with Craigavon Development Commission and in 1973 was assimilated into the Department of the Environment, following the re-organisation of local government. He holds a BSc degree from the University of Ulster and is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Mandy Jones joined the Commission in April 2002 and became a Senior Commissioner in August 2008. Prior to joining the Commission she worked as a Chartered Architect for 7 Years in private practice. She holds the degrees of BA in Architecture and B Arch from Queens University Belfast and is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Royal Society of Ulster architects of which she was a council member between 1999-2000.

Alistair Beggs was appointed to the Commission in November 2004 and became a Senior Commissioner in August 2008. Alistair holds a BSc in Town and Regional Planning and an MSc, both from Dundee University. He is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. He previously worked as a Planner with Dundee District Council, Angus Council and Fife Council before joining the Commission.

Rosemary Daly joined the Commission in April 2005 and became a Senior Commissioner in August 2008. Rosemary holds a BSc in Environmental Planning, Postgraduate Diploma in Town and Country Planning and an MSc in Rural Development from Queen’s University, Belfast. She is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Prior to joining the Commission Rosemary worked in private practice with Turley Associates and Mono Consultants where she represented a broad range of clients in the public and private sectors. Before joining private practice she worked as a planning officer with the Department of the Environment Planning Service.

Commissioners

Pauline Boomer joined the Commission in July 2005. She holds a BSc Degree in Economics and Geography from the New University of Ulster and a Postgraduate Diploma in Town and Country Planning from Queens University, Belfast. She is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Prior to joining the Commission, she had been working for the Department of the Environment Planning Service between 1991 until 2005. She previously held various posts with the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames and London Borough of Merton.

Helen Fitzsimons joined the Commission in September 2006.She holds a BSc degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Town and Country Planning and is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Prior to joining the Comission she worked as a planner for Ipswich Borough Council and latterly with the Department of the Environment Planning Service.

Damien Hannon joined the Commission in September 2006. Prior to this he worked as a planner for the London Borough of Hillingdon. He subsequently worked for the Planning Service, Department of the Environment between 1988 and 2006 with a secondment to The Department for Regional Development between 2000 and 2003. Damien holds a BA degree in Geography, a Postgraduate Diploma in Town and Country Planning from Queen’s University Belfast and is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Denise McShane joined the Commission in September 2006. She holds a BA degree and a Masters in Town Planning from Queen's University Belfast and a Masters in Environmental Policy and Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin, USA. She is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Prior to joining the Commission, Denise worked for a short period with DOE(NI) Planning Service. The majority of her career has been with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in London. This included a secondment to the United States with the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.

Diane O'Neill joined the Commission in September 2006. Diane holds a BSc in Environmental Planning, Postgraduate Diploma in Town and Country Planning and a PhD from Queen’s University, Belfast. Prior to joining the Commission she worked from 2000-2006 as a planner with the Department of the Environment Planning Service with a secondment to the Department for Regional Development between 2003 and 2004. Diane is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Mark Watson Mark was appointed to the Commission in January 2008. Prior to joining the Commission, he worked in the private sector with Turley Associates planning consultancy. Before that he worked as a planner with the Department of the Environment, Planning Service. He holds a BSc degree in Environmental Planning and Postgraduate Diploma in Town and Country Planning, both attained at QUB. He is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Pamela O'Donnell joined the Commission in January 2008. She holds a BSc in Environmental Planning and a post graduate diploma in Environmental Planning from Queen's University, Belfast. She also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Computers and Information Systems.She is a member of the RTPI. Prior to joining the Commission, Pamela worked in the private sector with Turley Associates. She has formerly held positions in the Department of Environment’s Planning Service and Department for Social Development's Urban Regeneration Group and the West Belfast Partnership Board.

Brigid McGlinchey joined the Commission in January 2008. Brigid has a BSc in Combined Science, a post graduate diploma in Town Planning and an MA in Marketing. Prior to her appointment she held a number of positions including the Department of Environment’s Planning Service, Craigavon Borough Council and in the private sector.

Panel Commissioners

Ian Fernie MA, M.Sc, M.ENV. Studies, MRTPI.

Nick Howard B Sc, MRTPI.

Chief Administrative Officer

Ciaran Purvis was appointed Chief Administrative Officer in July 2007.