Paragraph 1 – Previous Auditor General to continue to be Auditor General
93.Paragraph 1 means that if a person holds office as AGW on the ‘appointed day’ that person will be treated on and after that day as if he or she had been appointed under Part 1 of the Act. This will ensure continuity between the existing statutory regime and the new statutory regime under this Act so far as the AGW is concerned.
94.The term ‘appointed day’ is defined in paragraph 1(5) and means the day on which this paragraph comes into effect.
95.Paragraph 1(2)(b) provides that if there is a serving AGW on the appointed day that person’s term of office will be 8 years, less any amount of time he or she was AGW before the appointed day. The effect of this is that if a person is the AGW before the appointed day and continues to hold that office on the appointed day, then he or she will be treated as being the AGW as if appointed under this Act. If a person’s terms of office is 8 years (as the Act provides) but he or she has already served 2 years in office, then on the appointed day that person’s term of office as AGW will be reduced to 6 years.
96.Paragraph 1(3) provides that in such a case the remuneration arrangements under section 7 of the Act are to be made by the Assembly (following consultation with the First Minister). This must be done before the appointed day. This will ensure that the person holding office as AGW will hold it on the terms and conditions, including as to remuneration, set in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
