Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
547. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Public Appointments Service plan to run an open administrative officer competition in the Civil Service in 2021; if the service plan to run an open competition for the position of third secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18550/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the independent recruiter for appointments to the civil service. PAS undertakes competitions on behalf of the civil service to establish panels that may be drawn upon as vacancies arise in Government Departments or Offices.
Administrative Officer Competition The last Administrative Officer general entry campaign undertaken by PAS closed for applications on 8 October 2020 and an Administrative Officer panel is presently in place. As set out in the competition booklet, the panel will remain in place for a period of up to one year from inception, until such time as the panel is either exhausted or a new panel supersedes it. As this competition is the principal recruitment pathway by which recent graduates enter the civil service, I would be favourably disposed to a 2021 Administrative Officer general campaign being held later in the year although the precise timing of any campaign is still to be finalised.
Third Secretary Competition
Third Secretary is the graduate entry grade in the Department of Foreign Affairs for the Irish Diplomatic Service. I am advised that the last Third Officer campaign undertaken by PAS on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs closed for applications on 8 October 2020 and a Third Secretary panel is presently in place. As set out in the competition booklet, the panel will remain in place for a period of up to two years from inception, until such time as the panel is either exhausted or a new panel supercedes it. The timing of any future Third Secretary competition is a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the first instance.
It should be noted that the placement of any candidate on a particular competition panel is not an offer of employment. Recruitment is demand led and a panel may be drawn upon as and when vacancies arise during the lifetime of the panel.
