As the Deputy is aware, the Secretary General of each Government Department is appointed by Government. As set out at Section 6 of the Public Service Management Act 1997, each Secretary General is accountable to the Minister of the Government having charge of the relevant Department in discharging his or her duties.
Under Section 17 of the Civil Service Regulation Act, 1956 (as amended), as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have the following miscellaneous powers in relation to the Civil Service including the regulation and control of the Civil Service; the classification, re-classification, numbers and remuneration of civil servants; the fixing of the terms and conditions of service of civil servants, and the conditions governing the promotion of civil servants.
Each Secretary General, along with heads of major civil service offices, participates on the Civil Service Management Board (CSMB) that is presently chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach. The CSMB provides collective leadership for the civil service, with a focus on progressing overall strategic priorities set out by Government under the Programme for Government and under the Civil Service Renewal Plan.