The current Certification Officer for Northern Ireland, Mr. Roy Gamble, was appointed on the 11th of April 2005 under Article 69 of the Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 and was reappointed for a further term on the 1 April 2008. The Certification Officer's functions generally concern the internal affairs of trade unions and employers' associations. They relate mainly to listing, accounting records, approving political fund rules of Northern Ireland based unions, secret ballots and the certification of independence of trade unions. The Certification Officer is also responsible for determining complaints concerning trade union elections, certain other ballots and trade union rules. Appeals to his decisions are either to the High Court or the Court of Appeal depending on the issue. More detailed information on the role of the Certification Officer, and the relevant legislation, can be found in the Annual Report.
Mr. Gamble held a number of senior posts within the Northern Ireland Civil Service until his retirement in December 2004. These included Director of Employment Rights Division in the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), Head of the Economic Strategy Unit in the Department of Economic Development (DED), and of the Economic Planning Division and Energy Division both in DED.