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Dr Carmel Corrigan has been confirmed as the island’s new Children’s Commissioner.
The appointment of Dr Corrigan for a six-year term was formalised after States Members voted by 42-0, with two abstentions, in favour of the nomination, which was made by the Chief Minister and the president of the scrutiny liaison committee, Deputy Sam Mézec.
In a report presented to Members, Dr Corrigan was profiled as currently working within the Ombudsman for Children’s office in the Republic of Ireland. In this role, the report stated, she had worked to embed participation and rights education in government policy making through attending joint parliamentary committees.
Members were told that the recruitment process had been overseen by the chair of the Jersey Appointments Commission, with shortlisted candidates undertaking an interview with a panel of local children and young people, and a formal panel interview with the government's assistant chief executive, the Greffier of the States Assembly, the chief executive officer of Every Child Matters, and the former Children’s Commissioner for England. The preferred candidate also met Deputy Moore and Deputy Mézec, Members were told.
The report stated that the role was evaluated at a cost of £134,434 as part of a total staffing budget for the office of the Children's Commissioner of £995,415.
Pictured: Dr Carmel Corrigan is currently the Head of Participation and Rights Education at the Ombudsman for Children's Office in Ireland.
The permanent role has been vacant since the resignation of Deborah McMillan in July 2022, with Andrea Le Saint holding the role in an interim capacity since then.
Under the 2019 law governing the introduction of the Commissioner for Children and Young People, the 30-minute debate was held behind closed doors. Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache and Deputy Montfort Tadier abstained when the vote was taken.
Nominee for £134k-per-year Children's Commissioner role announced
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