Vol. 495 No. 1
136 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the estimate of the number of vacancies that will arise within his Department over the next three years as personnel reach retirement age; the procedures, if any, he intends to apply to the process of filling these vacancies and to filling any consequential vacancies that might arise from the promotion of serving personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19164/98]
It is expected that the following number of retirements will take place in the Department according to grade over the next three years: Assistant secretary and above, 5; counsellor/deputy legal adviser, 2; higher executive officer, 1; clerical officer, 1; service officer, 5.
Vacancies arising from retirements and consequential vacancies arising from the promotion of serving personnel are filled on the responsibility of the Secretary General in accordance with the Public Service Management Act, 1997, up to the rank of first secretary/assistant principal officer. The procedures in these cases include the determination of suitability based on the advice of the Department's management and internal competitions. In certain cases, such vacancies are filled directly by recruitment through the Civil Service Commission or from service-wide promotion panels.
For promotions to counsellor and to assistant secretary, the arrangements are currently being reviewed. In this regard, I have asked the Secretary General of the Department to pursue consultations with all concerned, including the relevant staff associations. Appointments to the position of Secretary General are decided by the Government.
