We represent you
The Environmental Health Association of Ireland is the professional body representing professionals working in the Health Service Executive, Local Authorities and private practice.
Our mission is to promote, educate and advise our members, the public and industry on environmental health and public health issues.
LEADING
Founded in 1949, the EHAI have been instrumental in developing many of the environmental standards and policies that have contributed to better public health and wellbeing in Ireland including smoke free and sunbed legislation. We help shape the environmental health agenda.
INFLUENCING
We continue to work on raising standards to improve public health. We support our members’ professional development through our training days and our annual forum. We ensure their voices are heard, by the public, our communities and policy makers. The EHAI is the leading provider of accredited food safety training in Ireland delivered both by us as an organisation and in association with our EHAI Licensed Training Providers.
CONNECTING
The EHAI is a membership association made up of environmental health professionals and academics working around the world, improving lives and demonstrating excellence across all areas of environmental health including food, public health, housing, environmental protection, and health and safety.
We offer professional networking and career development opportunities nationally via our annual forum, EHAI training events, and various committees, and internationally via our membership of the International Federation of Environmental Health.
Officer Board Members
Adrian O’Sullivan – Chairman
Adrian O’Sullivan has served as Deputy Chairman since 2014.
Having graduated in 1997 he initially worked in Environmental Health in the UK before returning to work in both Kerry and North Cork offices. Adrian was initially attracted to the EHAI by the association’s key role in influencing government policy and the subsequent role out of legislation in emerging areas such as tobacco control, sun beds and cosmetics. He has also lobbied government on behalf of the EHAI to seek sensible regulation of the Aquatic Leisure Industry, Open Farms and Tattooing/Body piercing industries within Ireland. Adrian has recently campaigned with other key stakeholders within in the Alcohol Alliance to prevent the watering down of the recently passed Public Health Alcohol Bill. He believes the EHAI plays a key role nationally and internationally forging key links with sister organisations in establishing international best practice in a whole myriad of environmental health areas. In 2010 he graduated with an MA, from the University of Dublin. He has a keen interest in current affairs, history, exploring the great outdoors which includes Killarney National Park on his doorstep as well as coaching underage teams at his native Spa GAA Club in Killarney.
Eugene Monaghan –Deputy Chairman
Eugene Monahan graduated from Dublin Institute of Technology in 2003 with a BSc Environmental Health. He initially worked in the areas of Food and Tobacco Control with the Health Board before travelling to Australia and working with Manly Council in Sydney. On returning to Ireland, Eugene worked in Housing Standards Enforcement and Public Health in Dublin City Council for 9 years. During his time in Dublin City Council Eugene completed research in the area of Fuel Poverty and was awarded an MPhil by DIT in 2014. Eugene has served as Secretary on the Eastern Branch Committee since 2012 and has also sits on the EHAI Committees for Pest Control and Housing. Eugene is currently employed by the HSE and is based in Dublin South West City working mainly in Food and Tobacco Control.
Marie Ryan - Public Relations Officer
Marie Ryan first began her association with the EHAI as editor of the yearbook. An entertaining and informative tome which has kept members abreast of the latest developments and happenings in environmental health for over thirty years now. The experience was both challenging and encouraged her to become more involved in the EHAI. When the opening for Public Relations Officer came up she jumped in with both feet. Marie has worked as the PRO since 2013. Duties have included organising World Environmental Health Day, updating the EHAI primary course in food safety, development of an educational video for youtube, development of the website and social media and hounding EHAI members with a camera and a smile in order to update both. The work has been rewarding, the people she has met have been remarkable and the experience has been very worthwhile.
Jennifer Shorten: Honorary Secretary
Jennifer Shorten graduated from DIT Cathal Brugha St in 1999 with a Second Class Honours degree in Environmental Health. She joined the EHAI in 2000 and at the same time became Secretary for the Eastern Branch. She took up the role of PRO in 2003 for a short time before taking a career break to travel and work in Australia. She worked as an EHO in Sydney for a number of months before heading home via South East Asia.
On return to Ireland in 2004 and her role as an EHO in Dublin, she also resumed the role of PRO for the EHAI. She was mainly involved in the promotion of the EHAI nationally and the organisation of events and conferences. She was nominated for the position of Hon Secretary in 2008 and was in this role until 2012. Her main body of work to date, in conjunction with the EHAI Hygiene Education Committee has been the production of a new food safety training DVD, the revision of the EHOA Primary Course in Food Safety and the overhaul of all training material available through the EHAI. Following a hiatus from the Officer Board of the EHAI, she returned as Hon Secretary in October 2016.
Jennifer is also a Senior EHO based in Dublin City Centre involved in Food and Tobacco Control and is on the National Sunbed Group for the HSE.
Stephen Ryan: Honorary Secretary
Stephen Ryan is a Senior Environmental Health Officer with the Health Service Executive (HSE), and graduated in 1996 with a B.Sc (Hon’s) and Higher Diploma in Environmental Health. Postgraduate qualifications include M.Sc (Agricultural) Engineering Technology, BA (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy, Diploma in Addiction Studies, and studies in Negotiation. Stephen is based in Mallow, North Cork, and previously he was responsible for managing the busy Dublin South City Centre office. Formally Stephen was the Editor of the Associations yearbook for a number of years, and has also contributed to the Associations food hygiene training projects.