The Chief Commissioner has been appointed to the NI Equality Commission

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Honorable Hilary Benn MP, has announced the re-appointment of Geraldine McGahey as Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Background

The Equality Commission was established in 1999 as part of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. He took over the roles of the Fair Employment Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Race Equality Council and the Northern Ireland Disability Council.

The Commission is responsible for ensuring that all public authorities in Northern Ireland have a statutory duty to take into account the need to promote equality of opportunity in a range of areas, including religion, political opinion, sex, race, age, marital status, religious orientation sexual. , disability and those with or without dependents. The Commission is funded and sponsored by the Executive Office. More information about the work of the Commission can be found at:

https://www.equalityni.org/Home

Biography of the appointed person

Geraldine was appointed Chief Commissioner in March 2020. She is a former Chief Executive of Larne Borough Council, a SOLACE Gender Champion and has represented the local government in various regional forums including the Good Relations Panel, the Flags Forum, the Social Investment Fund and the Evaluation public administration. .

Geraldine also previously served as a member of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland from 2016 to 2020 and as a non-executive director of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust from 2016 to 2020. In 2015 she was awarded an OBE for services to . local administration and the Community.

Terms of appointment

• This post is for a period of five years ending on 28 February 2030.
• Remuneration and pension arrangements are Executive Office matters, but the position is aligned to the NICS SCS 1 pay scale.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and in compliance with statutory requirements. Political activity plays no role in the selection process. However, under the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement that the political activity of persons named in defined categories be made public.

Geraldine McGahey said she had not been politically active for the past five years.

Regulations

This appointment is regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA).

Statutory requirements

The Secretary of State makes appointments to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Act 1998.