Assembly Appoints Its Commissioner for Standards

The Northern Ireland Assembly today agreed to appoint Mr Douglas Bain CBE as the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards. The new independent office of Commissioner was created last year and has a range of statutory powers.

Speaking after the Assembly resolution Alastair Ross, MLA, the Chairperson of the Committee on Standards and Privileges said: “I welcome the Assembly’s decision to appoint Douglas Bain as the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards.  The role of the independent Commissioner is crucial in ensuring that MLAs uphold high standards of conduct in public life. Mr Bain has all the skills and expertise to make an excellent Commissioner and I look forward to working with him.

“I also want to place on record the Assembly’s gratitude to the Ombudsman, Dr Tom Frawley CBE, who has carried out the role of interim Assembly Commissioner for Standards for a number of years. Both the Assembly and the wider public have been well served by his support and it is important that this is acknowledged.”

ENDS