The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Hilary Benn MP, has announced the reappointment of seven Commissioners (Maureen Brunt, Siobhan Cullen, Ellen Finlay, Monica Fitzpatrick, Colin Kennedy, John McCallister and Preeti Yellamaty) and the new appointment of Harry Robinson to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Background

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

The Commission is responsible for policing the Statutory Duty on all public authorities in Northern Ireland to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity across a range of areas including religion, political opinion, gender, race, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability and those with and without dependants. The Commission is funded and sponsored by The Executive Office.  Further information about the work of the Commission can be found at: 

https://www.equalityni.org/Home

Biographies for the seven re-appointees can be found on the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland website:

https://www.equalityni.org/HeaderLinks/About-Us/Our-structure#gsc.tab=0

In addition, Harry Robinson is currently employed as Head of School at Belfast Metropolitan College and has a background of over 20 years working in Further Education to provide equality of opportunity for those facing barriers to education. He has a lead role in the provision of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) for refugees and those seeking asylum in Northern Ireland as well as the delivery of Community Education and Lifelong Learning. Harry is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) a local charity that works to promote the rights and voice of children in care and care leavers in Northern Ireland.

Terms of Appointment

• These positions are part-time for a period of three years ending on 31 May 2028. Both the reappointments and new appointment will commence from 1 June 2025.
• The positions receive a fixed annual remuneration of £5,000.
• The positions are not pensionable.

Political Activity

All appointments are made on merit and with regards to the statutory requirements. Political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity in defined categories to be made public. 

None have declared any political activity in the past five years. 

Regulation

These appointments are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointment (OCPA).

Statutory Requirements

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