Payments to Isle of Man Meats board more than triple over three years

Compensation paid to non-executive directors rose from £70k in 2023 to more than £250k in 2025

A written response from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) has revealed a sharp increase in payments to the Board of Isle of Man Meats, with total compensation more than tripling over the last three fiscal years.

Data released following a Tynwald question from Onchan MHK Julie Edge shows that total payments to non-executive directors (NEDs) rose from £70,050 in 2023 to over £250,000 in 2025.

A key driver of the increased expenditure is a significant shift in how board members are remunerated. While 2023 payments were largely handled via standard payroll at a flat rate of £7,000 per annum, recent years have seen a move toward daily rates (up to £550 for the Chair) and the use of private company invoices.

In 2025 alone, £154,155 was paid through invoices to private companies, surpassing the £96,091 paid through direct payroll.

The figures highlight substantial payments to entities owned by key figures at the plant:

Quantum Connection Ltd: Owned by the current Meat Plant Board Chair Damien Corcoran, this company received a combined total of £102,000 in 2025. Of this, £66,000 was paid by Isle of Man Meats under direct instruction from DEFA.

Birnie Consultancy: Run by Managing Director Dr Jonathan Birnie, an agricultural economist and board member, this firm received over £52,000 in 2025 for services split between DEFA and Isle of Man Meats. Dr Birnie was the principal author of the audit that originally identified “major challenges” at the abattoir.

Minister Clare Barber noted that a “revised board” was appointed in 2024 as an “emergency” measure to stabilise the loss-making facility.

This restructuring included “additional payments” authorised under the financial delegations of the department’s accounting officer to support the transition.

These payments were reportedly ceased in August 2025.

The lack of an open recruitment process for these positions - and more recently for former MHK Bill Shimmins - has sparked criticism from some.

In December 2025’s House of Keys sitting, Ms Edge raised concerns surrounding transparency, questioning whether the public could “reasonably assume there had been a shortlist of one” for certain appointments.

Despite the rising costs, Mr Corcoran has expressed confidence in the facility’s future, describing the new leadership team as committed to “restoring trust” and “strategic progress”.

DEFA has indicated that a full, open recruitment process for a longer-term board is intended to take place in April 2026.

The Meat Plant current relies on an annual government subvention of approximately £2 million to remain operational.