New appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and Commissions
Secretary of State announces appointments to Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers MP, today announced the appointment of Les Allamby as the new Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) and the re-appointment of all seven members. She has also announced the reappointment of seven members of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI).
Theresa Villiers said:
I welcome Les Allamby’s appointment as Chief Commissioner for the NIHRC. He will bring with him the skills, understanding and knowledge that will contribute greatly to the Commission’s work.
I wish Mr Allamby all the very best as he takes up this position.
I can also announce that I am reappointing all seven members of the NIHRC and extending the appointments of seven members of the ECNI for a period of 12 months
The Secretary of State thanked the outgoing interim Chief Commissioner, John Corey. She said:
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank John Corey for his work and commitment to his role as the interim Chief Commissioner. This has very much been appreciated.
Les Allamby has been appointed as Chief Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission for a period of 5 years. He will take up office from 1 September 2014.
Grainia Long, Christine Collins, John Corey, Milton Kerr, Alan McBride, Marion Reynolds and Paul Yam have been re-appointed to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for a further three years until 31 August 2017.
The appointments of Jane Morrice, Stella Burnside, Kit Chivers, Patricia Feeny, Charo Lanao-Madden, Norman Trotter and Murray Watt to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland have been extended for a period of 12 months until 31 July 2015.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission were created by the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
Further information on the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland can be found on its website at www.equalityni.org and information on the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission can be found on its website at www.nihrc.org
Biography of Les Allamby
Les Allamby is a solicitor and currently Director, Law Centre (Northern Ireland). He will stand down from this position in the autumn and will take up office as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on 1 September 2014.
Les’ current appointments include vice chair Social Security Advisory Committee; Chair of immigration sub group (OFMDFM) and he was appointed honorary Professor of Law at the University of Ulster last year. He is also currently a member of Northern Ireland Strategic Migration Partnership (Home Office) and Vice Chair of Community Foundation for Northern Ireland. From 2000, he was Chair of advisory group to Human Rights Commission on proposals for economic and social rights within a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. He was formerly the Chair of the Social Security Standards Committee for Northern Ireland, a member of the Legal Services Commission (Northern Ireland) and a member of the Legal Services Review Group. He has undertaken election monitoring for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and International Organisation for Migration in Bosnia, Pakistan and Georgia.
Biographies of the members reappointed to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland can be found on the websites www.nihrc.org and www.equalityni.org
Terms of appointment
Appointments are made in line with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice.
Les Allamby is appointed to the position of Chief Commissioner on a full-time basis; however, he will work part-time for the first few weeks of his appointment. He will receive remuneration of £65,442 per annum.
Members of Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission receive £10,000 per annum for a commitment of one day per week. And members of the Equality Commission receive a remuneration of £5,000 per annum for a commitment of approximately two days per month.
Members of both Commissions are appointed on a part time basis.
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.
Mr Alan McBride declared that he spoke at the Alliance Party Conference and endorsed an Alliance party candidate at the recent European Parliamentary elections.