Mrs Huston was first appointed as Commissioner on 1 August 2005 and her current term in office comes to an end on 31 July 2008.
The appointment is a part time non-pensionable position, attracting remuneration of £31,212 per annum, and takes effect from 1 August 2008 for a period of three years.
Notes to Editors:
The independent post of Commissioner for Public Appointments was established in Northern Ireland following the Report of the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life in 1995. The Commissioner is a statutory office holder appointed by the First Minister and deputy First Minister under the provisions of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.
The Commissioner regulates and monitors departments’ compliance with the Code of Practice on Public Appointments and provides advice on appointment procedures, investigates complaints and has the right to audit departmental practices. The Commissioner’s formal remit extends only to Executive NDPBs and HPSS Bodies, but departments routinely apply the Commissioner’s guidance to all appointments for which they are responsible.
The main responsibilities and duties of the Commissioner are to: advise Ministers and officials on the procedures for making public appointments; prescribe and publish a Code of Practice, which provides advice on making public appointments, taking into account the principle of selection on merit; promote compliance with the Commissioner’s Code of Practice by Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments and their agencies; oversee the systematic sample auditing of departmental public appointment procedures; conduct inquiries into departmental policies and practices in relation to public appointments; investigate any complaints that arise about appointment processes; and publish an annual report that includes information on how departments apply the Commissioner’s Guidance in the appointment procedures.
Biographical Details
Mrs Felicity Huston lives in Belfast and has been a partner in Huston and Co Tax Consultants since 1994. She is currently a member of the House of Lords Appointment Commission and the General Commissioners of Income Tax. She has previously held a number of public appointments and is a past Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Consumer Committee for Electricity and Deputy Chairperson of the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland.
