News

The Commissioner today issued the updated version of the CPA NI Code of Practice, this version of the Code is for immediate implementation and replaces all previous versions. It is available for download from our homepage.

The new Organisational Structure for CPA NI is now available, this lists all staff members, their job titles and roles within the Organisation.

CPANI Organisational Structure (48KB)

The Commissioner today, 20th July 2011, published her 16th Annual Report detailing the work of her Office during the year 2010/2011. The full Report can be found on our Publications page.

The Detail, a Northern Ireland based investigative journalism website have published articles based on a series of three interviews with the Commissioner. All three pieces are available from the Detail's website, the links to which are below

A bit of divide and rule

The uphill battles of a Stormont Regulator

The "stale, pale and male" syndrome of Appointments here

The Commissioner for Public Appointments (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 empowers the Commissioner to “audit appointment policies and practices pursued by appointing authorities, to establish whether the Code of Practice is being observed by the appointing authority”.  The Commissioner launched a new Code in February 2010.

The Northern Ireland Water Chair competition run by the Department for Regional Development (DRD) was selected as one of this year’s audits because of the results of a previous review into the process to appoint interim NEDs to the Board. The Full Report is available below

DRD Audit Report - Northern Ireland Water (51KB)

The Commissioner is required by legislation to “audit appointment policies and practices pursued by appointing authorities, to establish whether the Code of Practice is being observed by the appointing authority”.

The Department of the Environment was selected for one of this year’s audit. The overall objective was to evaluate whether Ministerial appointments to the Local Government Staff Commission were in accordance with the Code. The Commissioner wrote to the Permanent Secretary informing him of her decision to carry out this audit and asking for all documentation relating to this competition.

The full audit report is available from our Investigations page.

We would like to thank staff from the Sponsor Branch involved for all of their assistance and help whilst conducting the audit.

A small delegation from CPA NI recently attended the 2011 BIOA Biennial Conference in Loughborough. The main theme of the conference this year was "Ombudsmen in a climate of change", focusing on the changing economic and social pressures we deal with. This was an invaluable opportunity to mix with other bodies dealing with similar issues, and provided a forum to share experiences and advice on a variety of subjects. The conference also allowed CPA NI to promote the issue of Public Appointments in Northern ireland to a wider audience.

More information on the British and Irish ombudsman Association can be found below.

British and Irish Ombudsman Association website

We have recently been experiencing some technical difficulties which have affected our website, phone lines and e-mail accounts. The problems began on 3rd April and were resolved on 6th April, if you tried to e-mail or phone the office during this period there is a good chance we have no record of this, and ask that you contact us again. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may have caused.

Pat Neeson, CPA NI, Compliance Advisor recently attended the Rural Women’s Networks Celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. As diversity is a major principle in the Commissioners Code of Practice this was a perfect opportunity to promote awareness of the office to an under-represented group in an informal setting. Held in the Tullyglass Hotel, Ballymena the event attracted around 230 rural women providing a forum for women to discuss their changing role in the current economic climate. In line with the Commissioner’s ongoing commitment to encourage involvement in public appointments across all sections of the community we will continue to support other like-minded events.   

Further information on this event can be obtained from the Northern Ireland Rural Women’s Network.

After almost five years as Policy Advisor with us, Martina Hanna is leaving to join OFMDFM – Equality, Good Relations and Economic Policy Division.

Those of you who have dealt with Martina will, I’m sure, appreciate all she has done to help and improve the public appointments system. Particular mention should be made of the significant part she played in redrafting the Code of Practice.

We wish her good luck in her new post and a big ‘thank-you’ for all she’s done.

We’ll miss her

Felicity Huston

7th March 2011.

(Departments - please see entry on departmental guidance page re interim arrangements.)

Following on from a recent Freedom of information request, my concerns regarding the role of two people investigating the Christmas water crisis have been highlighted by the BBC. The news story in full can be found on the BBC website, the link is below.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12609932

All the documents released under the FOI request are available in pdf format from NI Water investigation FOI

The BBC has reported that an industrial tribunal has rejected claims of unlawful discrimination by the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister. My Office accepted several changes to the process involved, the full story is available below

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12597625

The Commissioner today, 17th November 2010, published her 15th Annual Report detailing the work of her Office during the year 2009/2010. The full Report can be found on our Publications page.

The Official Report (Hansard) of the Public Accounts Committee regarding Public Appointments is now available from the link below.

PAC - Official Report - Public Appointments - 17th June 2010

Part of my statutory obligation under the Commissioner for Public Appointment (Amendment) Order (NI) 2001 is to review the policies and practices of the Departments. My Code of Practice requires Permanent Secretaries to assure me that their Department is complying with my Code. I wrote to Departments asking where applicable, that a Compliance Statement was completed for the period 1st February 2010 to 31st July 2010. The individual Departmental responses are below.

DARD Compliance Response (289KB)
DCAL Compliance Response (212KB)
DE Compliance Response (256KB)
DEL Compliance Response (424KB)
DETI Compliance Response (125KB)
DFP Compliance Response (406KB)
DHSSPS Compliance Response (61KB)
DOE Compliance Response (190KB)
DOJ Compliance Response (228KB)
DRD Compliance Response (752KB)
DSD Compliance Response (241KB)
OFMDFM Compliance Response (281KB)

Since receiving a Freedom of Information request relating to the interim Ministerial Appointments of Non Executive Directors to the Northern Ireland Water Board, CPA NI have decided to publish the information released, this is in line with Section 78 of the FOI Act 2000. Further details can be found through the following link

Freedom of Information request- Department for Regional Development (36KB)

The documents in pdf format can be downloaded from FOI Request on NI Water.

The Public Accounts Committee published a report in June 2008 regarding the Hospitality Association of Northern Ireland and the NI Events Company.  The full report can be read through the following link

http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/public/2007mandate/reports/report36_07_08R.htm

Recommendations 35 through to 42 listed in the report were provided by the Committee regarding the oversight of Public Appointment processes.

The Commissioner was invited as a witness on 17th June 2010 to provide an update to the Public Accounts Committee on the progress on these specific recommendations and the overall effect on the process of making Public Appointments. The Commissioner told the Committee that whilst some progress has been made other recommendations have not been implemented. The Commissioner explained to the Committee that it is the responsibility of Ministers and their Departments to implement the changes needed.

As part of her ongoing compliance programme the Commissioner is in the process of surveying applicants who applied for Ministerial Public Appointments during 2009/10.  Six Departments are engaged in this survey and the Commissioner intends to publish a report based on the findings in the late autumn.

The Commissioner was invited as a witness to give evidence at the Committee of Standards and Privileges inquiry on the appointment of an Assembly Commissioner for Standards, on maintaining the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members (The Code of Conduct), and on handling alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct

The official report on these proceedings can be found on the Northern Ireland Assembly website.

A report on the findings of the Review of Audit and Complaint Recommendations for 2006-07 and 2008-09 carried out by the Commissioner's Compliance Advisor is now available for viewing.  This can be found on the Reports page along with the initial document about the Review.

The new Code of Practice comes into effect from today and is available to download on our Publications page.

If you require futher information regarding the Code please Contact Us.

We have introduced a new logo for the Office.  It will be used on all our paperwork and publicity for regulated appointments.

The logo was designed by Darragh Neely Design Works at a cost of £1050 + Vat including alternative formats and guidelines for departmental use in advertisements etc.

New office signage est. cost £150 + Vat.

2 large moveable publicity stands £320 + Vat each.