Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Assembly Commission, in relation to the appointment process for the Commissioner for Standards, whether the successful candidate declared, or was asked about, any interests from previous work during his time with the PSNI’s Anti-Corruption Unit and Professional Standards Department. [Priority Written]
Assembly Commission: The Office of Commissioner for Standards was established by the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (“the Act”) to investigate complaints of alleged breaches of the MLA Code of Conduct. The Functioning of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 subsequently extended the Commissioner’s remit to include complaints relating to alleged breaches of the Ministerial Code of Conduct.
Although appointments to the Office of Commissioner for Standards do not fall within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, in the interests of good practice the appointment competition was managed in accordance with the principles set out in the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
During the recruitment and selection process, applicants were required to declare whether they have any actual or potential conflicts of interest at three different stages of the process, namely on the application form, at interview and as part of the pre-appointment checks. Guidance on Integrity and Conflicts of Interest was provided to candidates.
At interview candidates were also asked whether they were aware of anything in their private or professional life that would, or have, the potential to undermine their ability to maintain public trust and confidence as the
Commissioner for Standards or which could, or have the potential to, bring the Commissioner for Standards into disrepute.
The successful candidate did not declare any conflicts of interest or highlight issues relating to their integrity at any stage of the recruitment and selection process.
ENDS
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