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About NZC

Terms of Reference:

  1. To provide a supportive national forum for Regional Zoonoses Committees.
  2. To provide a mechanism for timely information exchange on zoonotic disease between key stakeholders nationally / regionally / internationally.
  3. To facilitate professional development in the context of zoonoses prevention and control.
  4. To facilitate the ongoing development of linkages between key stakeholders.
  5. To identify and advise on those zoonoses posing the greatest risk to human health.
  6. To undertake horizon scanning on emerging zoonotic diseases and new strains of zoonotic organisms.

National Zoonoses Committee Members (alphabetical):

Dr. Anthony Breslin
Title: Consultant in Public Health Medicine
Affiliation: HSE – West (North West)
Regional Committee: North West (Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim)

Mr. Jim Buckley
Title: Chief Veterinary Officer
Affiliation: Cork County Council
Regional Committee: Cork

Dr John Egan
Title: Superintending Senior Research Officer
Affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Regional Committee: n/a

Mr. Paddy Fenton
Title: County Veterinary Officer
Affiliation: Kerry County Council
Regional Committee: Kerry

Dr. Cliodhna Foley-Nolan
Title: Director of Human Health and Nutrition
Affiliation: safefood
Regional Committee: n/a

Ms. Helen Gilchrist
Title: Senior Environmental Health Officer
Affiliation: HSE - West
Regional Committee: West (Mayo, Roscommon and Galway)

Mr. Paul Henry
Title: Principal Environmental Health Officer
Affiliation: n/a
Regional Committee: n/a

Mr. Michael Leyden
Title: County Veterinary Officer
Affiliation: Roscommon County Council
Regional Committee: West (Mayo, Roscommon and Galway)

Dr. Mai Mannix
Title: Consultant in Public Health Medicine
Affiliation: HSE – West (Mid West)
Regional Committee: Mid West (Clare, Limerick City and County, and North Tipperary)

Dr. Paul McKeown
Title: Consultant in Public Health Medicine
Affiliation: HSE/Health Protection Surveillance Centre
Regional Committee: n/a

Dr. Gerard Meaghar
Title: Senior Medical Officer (Longford and Westmeath)(Public Health)
Affiliation: Department of Public Health, MHB-Region, HSE - Dublin Mid-Leinster
Regional Committee: Midlands (Laois / Offaly / Longford / Westmeath)

Mr. John Moynihan
Title: Principal Environmental Health Officer
Affiliation: HSE - South
Regional Committee: Kerry

Mr. David Nolan
Title: Head of Division, Veterinary Public Health
Affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Regional Committee: n/a

Mr. Sean O'Laoide
Title: County Veterinary Officer
Affiliation: Westmeath County Council
Regional Committee: Midlands (Laois / Offaly / Longford / Westmeath)

Dr. Margaret B O'Sullivan
Title: Consultant in Public Health Medicine
Affiliation: HSE - South (Cork & Kerry)
Regional Committee: Cork

Mr. Brendan Smyth
Title: County Veterinary Officer
Affiliation: Monaghan County Council
Regional Committee: North Eastern (Cavan, Louth, Meath & Monaghan)

Mr. Killian Unger
Title: Superintending Veterinary Inspector
Affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Regional Committee: n/a


The NZC has the following subgroups:

  • Information Sharing Subgroup
  • Meetings Subgroup
  • Research Subgroup
  • Website Development Subgroup
What are Zoonoses