Latest news with #ClaireKeatinge
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
New watchdog confirmed for public appointments in Northern Ireland
A new watchdog for public appointments in Northern Ireland has been announced following a four-year vacancy. First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said Claire Keatinge has been appointed as the new Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland. Advertisement The former Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland is set to take up the role later this week for a five year term. Judena Leslie was the most recent Commissioner for Public Appointments in the region until May 2021. Ms O'Neill described the role as 'very important and challenging'. 'As guardian of the Public Appointment process, Claire will provide a key role in constructive challenge and guidance to Government departments to ensure that public appointments are based on merit and with proper regard to equality, diversity and inclusion,' she said. Advertisement Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'Given the substantial responsibilities carried by Arm's Length Bodies in Northern Ireland, the Commissioner will ensure that the process for Board Level public appointments here is fit for purpose. 'Claire brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role, and we are confident that this will enable her to provide strong, independent oversight of our Public Appointments process and deliver maximum impact in the years ahead.' SDLP Sinead McLaughlin questioned why the appointment had taken so long to make. 'It is frankly unacceptable that it has taken the First and deputy First Minister more than four years to make this appointment,' she said. Advertisement 'In the four years without a Commissioner, more than 360 public appointments have been made without the proper independent oversight that should be in place. That is not something I am comfortable with, nor should it be acceptable to those who lead our political institutions.'
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
New watchdog confirmed for public appointments in North after four-year vacancy
A new watchdog for public appointments in the North has been announced following a four-year vacancy. First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said Claire Keatinge has been appointed as the new Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland. Advertisement The former Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland is set to take up the role later this week for a five year term. Judena Leslie was the most recent Commissioner for Public Appointments in the region until May 2021. Ms O'Neill described the role as 'very important and challenging'. 'As guardian of the Public Appointment process, Claire will provide a key role in constructive challenge and guidance to Government departments to ensure that public appointments are based on merit and with proper regard to equality, diversity and inclusion,' she said. Advertisement Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'Given the substantial responsibilities carried by Arm's Length Bodies in Northern Ireland, the Commissioner will ensure that the process for Board Level public appointments here is fit for purpose. 'Claire brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role, and we are confident that this will enable her to provide strong, independent oversight of our Public Appointments process and deliver maximum impact in the years ahead.' SDLP Sinead McLaughlin questioned why the appointment had taken so long to make. 'It is frankly unacceptable that it has taken the First and deputy First Minister more than four years to make this appointment,' she said. Advertisement 'In the four years without a Commissioner, more than 360 public appointments have been made without the proper independent oversight that should be in place. That is not something I am comfortable with, nor should it be acceptable to those who lead our political institutions.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Northern Ireland: New public appointments commissioner announced
Claire Keatinge is to be the new public appointments commissioner for Northern role has been vacant since May 2021, after Judena Leslie's term in the job Ireland has about 1,400 public appointments, ranging from unpaid boards of further education colleges to many high-profile paid commissioner's role is to ensure that certain standards and principles are met in how these appointments to public bodies are made. 'Wealth of knowledge' Claire Keatinge will take up her post on 22 August 2025 for a period of five a person to the role requires approval from the first and deputy first Minister Michelle O'Neill said: "As guardian of the public appointment process, Claire will provide a key role in constructive challenge and guidance to government departments to ensure that public appointments are based on merit and with proper regard to equality, diversity and inclusion."Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly added: "Claire brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role, and we are confident that this will enable her to provide strong, independent oversight of our public appointments process and deliver maximum impact in the years ahead."Claire Keatinge is the former Older People's Commissioner for Northern Ireland.
