Secretary of State announces the appointment of new Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Hilary Benn MP, has announced the appointment of Mr David MacAnulty and Mr Donald Leeson as Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland with effect from 1 October 2025.

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

• These positions are part-time for a period of five years ending on 30 September 2030.  
• The positions receive a daily fee of £300.
• The positions are not pensionable.

Biographies

Mr MacAnulty is an Inspector of Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland. He formerly held the role of Prosecutor within the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland.

Mr Leeson currently holds the position of Non-Executive Director at the NI Transport Holding Company (Translink) and Chair of the Board of Trustees. HR Consultant and Accreditation Assessor with Diversity Mark. He formerly held the position of Chief Executive of the Labour Relations Agency NI and also held the position of Director of Corporate Services.

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. 

Both individuals have declared that they have 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.