Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

House of Lords written question – answered at on 12 October 2011.

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Photo of Lord Laird Lord Laird UUP

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 11 August (WA 427) concerning the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, what process was used to reduce the nine applications for chief commissioner to six; who did the vetting; and when.

Photo of Lord Shutt of Greetland Lord Shutt of Greetland Lords Spokesperson (Northern Ireland Office), Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords) , Liberal Democrat Lords Chief Whip

As previously stated in the answer of 3 October (Hansard, col. WA 132), appointment to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). All stages of the public appointments process were undertaken in accordance with its guidance by a selection panel that included a senior official from the NIO, a senior official from OFMdFM, an independent public appointments assessor and a technical expert.

Appointment is on merit and via open competition, regulated by OCPA. In March 2011, the selection panel sifted the nine applications received by the closing date of the competition. Only those applicants who clearly demonstrated in their application forms that they met the selection criteria were then invited to interview. The process was validated by the independent public appointments assessor.

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