Secretary of State announces appointment of a new Civil Service Commissioner for Northern Ireland
Appointment of new Civil Service Commissioner
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Sir Chris Bryant MP, has today announced the appointment of Dr Cathy Gormley-Heenan OBE as a Civil Service Commissioner for Northern Ireland with effect from 1 November 2026.
Background
Civil Service Commissioners are appointed under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 by the King, on recommendation from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Their function is to regulate appointments to the Northern Ireland Civil Service and under the terms of the Civil Service Commissioners (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, the Commissioners also have the power to consider, and determine, appeals to them by civil servants under the Northern Ireland Civil Service Code of Ethics.
Further information on the work of the Commissioners is available at:
https://www.nicscommissioners.org/
Terms of appointment
- This position is part-time for a period of five years ending on 31 October 2031.
- The position receives a daily fee of £300.
- The position is not pensionable.
Biographies
Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan OBE is the University Provost at Ulster University, a Trustee of the British-Irish Association, and a Board member of the NI Chamber of Commerce, and Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation (MLKDC), and a former Commissioner for the Independent Fiscal Commission for Northern Ireland, alongside various other board level roles and responsibilities.
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.
Dr Cathy Gormley-Heenan OBE declared that she has not been politically active in the last five years.
Regulation
Appointments to the Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland are not regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
Statutory Requirements
Appointments to the Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland are made under the provisions of section 36 (1) of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.