Promotions in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been relatively few since the introduction of the moratorium by the Government with effect from 27 March 2009, with any exceptions requiring the specific approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. In the period since then the Department’s core staffing decreased by approximately 190, or about 12%. Predictably, senior levels were most severely affected and, in the circumstances, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform recently approved the filling of some of the critical gaps that had arisen at these levels, particularly since the end of the pensions “grace period” on 29 February 2012. In the period under reference there have also been a number of up-gradings to higher scales in line with the terms of local bargaining agreements between various unions and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, 1994-1997. Full details are set out in the following table. In each case, the rules of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform governing pay-on-promotion were followed in determining the new scale point and increment date.
2009 Promotions
Number
|
From grade
|
To grade
|
5
|
Third Secretary
|
First Secretary
|
2
|
Higher Executive Officer
|
Assistant Principal Officer
|
1
|
Executive Officer
|
Higher Executive Officer
|
3
|
Clerical Officer
|
Staff Officer
|
2009 Up-Grades
Number
|
From grade
|
To grade
|
1
|
First Secretary
|
AP1
|
2
|
Third Secretary
|
Third Secretary Higher
|
2
|
Executive Officer
|
Executive Officer Higher
|
2010 Promotions
Number
|
From grade
|
To grade
|
Nil
|
-
|
-
|
2010 Up-Grades
Number
|
From grade
|
To grade
|
1
|
Third Secretary
|
Third Secretary Higher
|
1
|
Executive Officer
|
Executive Officer Higher
|
1
|
Clerical Officer
|
Clerical Officer Higher
|
2011 Promotions
Number
|
From grade
|
To grade
|
Nil
|
-
|
-
|
2011 Up-Grades
Number
|
From grade
|
To grade
|
1
|
Third Secretary
|
Third Secretary Higher
|
1
|
Executive Officer
|
Executive Officer Higher
|
1
|
Clerical Officer
|
Clerical Officer Higher
|
2012 Promotions
Number
|
From grade
|
To grade
|
5
|
First Secretary
|
Counsellor
|
7
|
Third Secretary
|
First Secretary
|
2012 Up-Grades
Number
|
From grade
|
To grade
|
3
|
Counsellor
|
PO1
|
8
|
First Secretary/APO
|
AP1
|
1
|
Third Secretary
|
Third Secretary Higher
|