Public Services Ombudsman Act (Northern Ireland) 2016

5.—(1) A person is disqualified from being appointed as the Ombudsman if the person—

(a) holds any other office,

(b) holds employment, or

(c) is a member of a body,

in respect of which remuneration or expenses are payable.

(2) A person who is the Ombudsman must not—

(a) be appointed to any other office,

(b) take employment, or

(c) become a member of a body,

in respect of which remuneration or expenses are payable.

(3) This paragraph has no effect in relation to a particular office, employment or membership if—

(a) the person gives notice of it to the Assembly Commission—

(i) before becoming Ombudsman, or

(ii) before being appointed to the office, taking the employment, or becoming the member, as the case may be, and

(b) the Assembly Commission is of the opinion that the office, employment or membership would not compromise—

(i) the ability of the Ombudsman to discharge functions under this Act, and

(ii) the independence of the Ombudsman.

(4) But—

(a) a person is not disqualified from being appointed as Ombudsman by virtue of being the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman,

(b) the Ombudsman is not prevented from being the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman.