SECRETARY OF STATE ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONER FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

Dr Carroll will take up the appointment with effect from 1 July 2022.

Dr Lesley Carroll is currently the Prisoner Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. She is a former Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, previously worked as a Presbyterian Minister in North Belfast and was a Panel Member reviewing Charity Regulation in NI which completed its work earlier this year.

Background

Civil Service Commissioners are appointed under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 by the Queen, on recommendation from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Their function is to regulate appointments to the Northern Ireland Civil Service and under the terms of the Civil Service Commissioners (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, the Commissioners also have the power to consider, and determine, appeals to them by civil servants under the Northern Ireland Civil Service Code of Ethics.

Further information on the work of the Commissioners is available of appointment

This position is part-time for a period of five years ending on 30 June 2027.

The position receives a daily fee of £300.

The position is not pensionable.

Political Activity

All appointments are made on merit and with regards to the statutory requirements. Political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity in defined categories to be made public.

Dr Carroll has declared that she has not been politically active in the last five to the Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland are not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Statutory Requirements

Appointments to the Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland are made under the provisions of section 36 (1) of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.