Update on the Commissioner for Older People's post

Caretaker role appointed for the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland

First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly announced the appointment of the current Commissioner, Eddie Lynch into a caretaker role within the office of Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland, for a period of up to six months.

Eddie Lynch has served his first term of office as Commissioner from June 2016 and was reappointed in June 2020, which is the maximum permitted under the legislation. The caretaker role within the office of the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland took effect from 13 June 2024 and will be for a period of up to 6 months. 

The caretaker role will enable the oversight of matters which are currently ongoing in the interests of older people but will exclude any statutory duties, it will conclude when a new Commissioner is appointed. 

A public appointment competition to appoint the next COPNI is currently underway.

Read more from the Executive Office here.