No Place for a Woman
Northern Ireland Women's European Platform
It is notable that in this study two quite different approaches to appointments did not appear to achieve different outcomes. The concerns remain similar:
* How to expand the pool of potential appointees?
* How to have fair assessment and selection?
* How to achieve gender balance?
* How to have good information on public sector governance?
* How to achieve high standards of governance?
Certainly the system in Northern Ireland offers a greater apparent transparency in its procedures, but of themselves procedures do not guarantee the balanced outcomes that may be intended. Human judgements are at the core of both this formal system and the more informal and explicitly political approach in the south, and it is in the area of such judgements that the systems can either succeed or fail. In either system it is possible to create the open and accountable approaches needed by greater use of explicit criteria, openness to identifying and using new ways of reaching potential candidates and monitoring of the process.
Nominating agencies in the south appear to operate a combination of the formal and informal, and they too need to review their practice. They form an elite group of agencies which have the power to influence public policy. As such they are responsible not simply to their own memberships interest but to the wider public who fund public bodies.
Recommendations
Overall we recommend that the process of nomination and selection of members of boards should be clearly governed by written policies and procedures. All those involved in data gathering, selection and appointment, must have the necessary training to implement policy and make appropriate decisions. Those appointed to represent the public interest in governance of these important bodies should have clear guidance on their role and responsibilities and support to carry out their task. The standards should be set by both Governments and should apply to all involved in the nominating process as well as to the public bodies themselves.
Specifically the policy and procedures should address the following:
Information
In neither jurisdiction is there an adequate central record of all those serving on public bodies. A knowledge base should not only be a required matter of accessible public but would serve as a base for government to monitor developments and changes to membership.
We strongly recommend that in both jurisdictions comprehensive information systems be set up, and in the light of greater cross border co-operation the systems should be mutually compatible and have the long term potential for linkage.
We further recommend that Internet resources and local media be used to make such information available and to inform the public about the membership and work of public bodies. The greater availability of information may result in greater interest and would help to remove some of the mystique still associated with the whole system.
Potential appointments database
We recommend that central databases of names of people willing to serve on public bodies should be maintained north and south using a common system. The public should be clear about how they apply to have their names included and the system should have realistic and explicit criteria so that those accepted for inclusion can reasonably expect to be considered for appointment. The information should be accessible across departments and between the two jurisdictions where cross border bodies are being appointed.
Decisions
People putting themselves forward or being considered deserve acknowledgement and should receive a response and feedback on the outcome. Politicians, departments and nominating bodies must be able to justify decisions made against criteria established at the outset.
Advertising
Advertising, already in use in Northern Ireland, should be used as one mechanism
for attracting wider interest. The impact and success of advertising on
recruitment generally and on the recruitment of women in particular should
be monitored to ensure that effective advertising opportunities are being
used. The use of local radio, voluntary sector news-sheets or magazines,
public libraries and local recreation centres should all be considered and
the nature of the content of advertisements evaluated in terms of appeal
to and applicability to women. |
