Mr. Brendan Gleeson:

The Minister advertises for the particular desirable skills, for example, veterinary, financial, legal would have been some of the skills that were required in recent years. People apply through the Public Appointments Service, PAS.

There is a board in the PAS, which includes independent members, that shortlists applicants based on their CV. The shortlist is prepared for the Minister and may consist of seven or ten people. The Minister makes his or her selection from the shortlist. That is the system as it exists today.