§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they consider that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is representative of the entire community when it has no representatives from any of the ethnic minorities, from the evangelical Protestant community or from the 22 per cent of the population who consider themselves to be Ulster Scots. [HL1336]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonNone of the members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was appointed to represent any particular group or section of the community within Northern Ireland. Each was appointed on his or her own merits but with regard to the statutory requirement that the Secretary of State should "as far as practicable secure that the Commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland". The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland remains committed to complying with the obligations placed on him by Sections 68(3) and 75 of the Northern Ireland Act in making any future appointments. In making appointments, however, the Government are inevitably constrained by the numbers and quality of applications made.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will start the process of recruiting a chief executive, chief commissioner and members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for its next statutory period; and whether they will ensure that it reflects all strands of Northern Irish society. [HL1337]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe chief commissioner and other existing members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission were appointed for three years from 1 March 1999. The Commissioner for Public Appointments recommends that public appointees should initially be assessed for their willingness and suitability for reappointment six months before the end of their appointment and, if appropriate, a further appointments process should then be run.
The Government are currently seeking to appoint further commissioners through open competition following the resignation of Angela Hegarty in 9WA January. All further appointments to the Commission will be made with regard to the Secretary of State's statutory obligations under s.68(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
The chief executive is directly employed by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, so her employment is a matter for the commission itself. The chief commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will require the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to place the answers to all relevant parliamentary Questions, including letters placed in the Library of the House, on the commission's website. [HL1378]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonIt is for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission itself to decide what is placed on its website. We will, however, put the noble Lord's suggestion to the commission.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Who is the accounting officer for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. [HL1553]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonMr Joe Pilling, Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office and principal Accounting Officer for all money within the NIO Vote, has designated Professor Brice Dickson, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, as Non-Departmental Public Body accounting officer for the Commission.