Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland

The Commissioner for Public Appointments is a public servant for Northern Ireland appointed by the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland,[1] whose primary role is to provide independent assurance that ministerial public appointments across Northern Ireland by Northern Ireland Executive Ministers.[1]

There are similar bodies for two other jurisdictions of the United Kingdom – the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland and the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for England and Wales.

As of July 2024, the position is vacant.[2]

List of Commissioners for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland

The role of Commissioner for Public Appointments in Northern Ireland was established in 1995. Initially, the position was combined with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Great Britain, before a separate Northern Ireland Commissioner was appointed in 2005.

Commissioner Term start Term end Notes
Sir Len Peach 18 December 1995 30 November 1999 First NI Commissioner; covered both Great Britain and Northern Ireland.[3]
Dame Rennie Fritchie DBE (later Baroness Fritchie) 1 December 1999 2005 Continued to cover NI alongside GB until a separate NI-only commissioner was created.[4]
Felicity Huston 2005 2011 First separately appointed NI-only Commissioner.[5]
John Keanie August 2011 31 August 2015 Five-year non-renewable term.[6]
Judena Leslie 1 September 2015 May 2021 Served until early May 2021; term extended in 2020 to deal with increased workload.[7]
Claire Keatinge 22 August 2025 Incumbent Appointed for a five-year term.[8]

After May 2021 the post remained vacant until the appointment of Claire Keatinge in August 2025.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (31 December 2016). "Code of Practice for Ministerial Public Appointments in Northern Ireland" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Commissioner's Biography". Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  3. ^ "History of the Commissioner for Public Appointments". Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Public Appointments: History and background". Commissioner for Public Appointments. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Public appointments watchdog Felicity Huston steps down". BBC News. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  6. ^ "New Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland announced". The Executive Office (NI). 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Extension to Appointment of Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland". The Executive Office (NI). 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Commissioner for Public Appointments appointed". The Executive Office (NI). 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
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