APPLICANTS TO PUBLIC BODIES TREATED BADLY, SAYS WATCHDOG

30th November 2009

Government officials are being accused of mistreating people who have applied to serve on public bodies.

A watchdog claimed members of the public who put themselves forward for posts on boards that advise the Assembly's Ministers, found themselves treated in an "off-hand manner".

Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland Felicity Huston also warned that more work had to be done to improve the interview process and to ensure conflicts of interest in public appointments were avoided.

Launching her 14th annual report, she said: "Many people who put themselves forward for appointment to our public bodies have a really bad experience.

"They are treated in an off-hand cavalier manner, often given the run around and generally made to feel unwanted.

"All I'm asking is for those organising these appointments to treat the public with the same respect and good manners they themselves would want.

"People don't spend hours filling in those forms because they're trying to pull a fast-one, but because they have a genuine belief in public service."

The Commissioner said that over the next six to 12 months she will be implementing her new Code of Practice.