New equality Commissioners for NI

Nine new equality Commissioners have been announced by the Secretary of State, Paul Murphy. They are as follows:

Anne O’Reilly (who will be Deputy Chief Commissioner)
Annie Campbell
Audrey Simpson
Brian Carlin
Daphne Trimble
Derick Wilson
Eileen Evason
Michael Rea
Tom Haverty

Mr Murphy welcomed the new Commissioners, saying they would bring a broad range of skills and expertise to the Equality Commission , “I am delighted to make these new appointments. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has an enormously important task, to which these new Commissioners will bring a great deal of fresh talent and expertise" .

The appointments are for a term of three years. There are no specific qualifications for appointment. Each person is appointed on merit to act in a personal capacity and not to represent any particular interest or group. Commissioners receive £5,000 per annum and the Deputy Chief Commissioner receives £10,000 per annum.

He added that he wanted to see more disabled and ethnic minority Commissioners in the future, “Clearly I am disappointed there is no one on the Commission with a disability or from a minority ethnic background. We will be taking steps to ensure the Commission is representative of the community in Northern Ireland in the next appointment process ”.

The appointees will join existing Commissioners:

Alan Henry
Ann Hope
Bob Osborne
Harry Coll
Harry McConnell
Joan Harbison (Chief Commissioner)
Margaret Logue
Ruth Lavery
Stephen Livingstone

Mr Murphy continued, “I want to thank those Commissioners who are leaving for the effort and imagination they have brought to advancing the equality agenda in Northern Ireland ”.

Outgoing Commissioners:

Bronagh Hinds (outgoing Deputy Chief Commissioner)
Jeremy Bryson
Monica Wilson
Noreen Wright
Paul Donaghy