Appointments to Independent Reporting Commission
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, The Rt. Hon. Brandon Lewis CBE MP has announced the appointment of Mitchell B. Reiss as the UK Commissioner to the Independent Reporting Commission for a further period from April 2022 to March 2025.
The Irish Government has nominated Tim O’Connor for a further period of appointment to the Commission, and Monica McWilliams and John McBurney have also been nominated by the Northern Ireland Executive for a further period of appointment.
Background
The Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) was established following the Fresh Start Agreement in 2015 by an international treaty between the UK Government and the Government of Ireland.
Its key functions are to report on progress towards ending paramilitary activity and on the implementation of the relevant measures of the UK Government, the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive. This includes oversight of the implementation of the NI Executive’s strategy to disband loyalist and republican paramilitary groups.
The New Decade New Approach Agreement, in January 2020, included a commitment to ongoing work to tackle paramilitarism and a second phase of the programme of work to tackle paramilitary activity is now underway.
The IRC continues to have a critical role in reporting on progress towards ending paramilitarism in Northern Ireland and the independent perspective offered by the Commission provides an important contribution to shaping and scrutinising that effort. The Commission’s fourth report, released in December 2021, reminds us of the important work still to be done.
Terms of appointment
The UK Commissioner position attracts a remuneration of £17,500 per annum and is not pensionable. The Northern Ireland Executive nominees receive a similar remuneration package.
The Irish Government is responsible for setting the terms for its nominee.
Political Activity
All appointments are made on merit and 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 within the last five years to be made public.
The UK Government nominee and Northern Ireland Executive nominees have declared no such political activity in the past five years.
Regulation
Appointments to the Independent Reporting Commission are not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.