A WATCHDOG has asked a Stormont department to hand over papers on several appointments made to the board of the Fire Service after raising transparency concerns.
An investigation has been launched by the public appointments commissioner into the Department of Health (DoH) selecting four people for the board in the absence of a minister.
The appointments were announced just weeks after the commissioner Judena Leslie found a series of flaws in the department's recruitment process.
They are among 16 appointments made by DoH to the boards of five public bodies this year, despite a minister usually being needed to run recruitment processes and approve new appointments.
Last week Ms Leslie told The Irish News she was "surprised" the department had made appointments without consulting her office, and they would be contacting DoH about "issues around transparency and compliance".
She said the public appointments code requires departments to "seek an exception" to allow an appointment to be made by departmental officials without a minister.
However, DoH defended its actions, and insisted its permanent secretary Richard Pengelly can make appointments without ministerial sign-off.
The commissioner's office has since confirmed Ms Leslie is to investigate the matter.
A spokeswoman said: "The commissioner received a number of complaints relating to the appointments to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.
"She has written to the department calling for the papers relating to the appointments. The commissioner will investigate and issue her report as soon as possible."
Northern Ireland has not had a power-sharing government for more than a year amid political deadlock, leaving civil servants to run Stormont departments.
