Mr. David Moloney:

The most obvious associated element of the package is the pension entitlements that come with different Civil Service packages. Pension entitlements are, of course, a complicated area insofar as the rules have changed a lot over time. The way in which Civil Service pensions, in particular, are treated has changed over time due to various reforms. For a Secretary General grade such as this one, there are two categories. The first applies to a person who was appointed before 2011 and if such a person was to be successful in this competition, one set of rules would apply to him or her. Another set of rules would apply for a person who joined the Civil Service after 2011. Broadly speaking, for someone who joined the Civil Service before 2011, the package includes the potential for added years and pension benefits that rely on final year salary. After 2011, those conditions are more restricted and, indeed, if the person appointed as a result of the current competition is new to the Civil Service or public service, they will join the single pension scheme and will not be eligible for any enhancements above and beyond other members of the single pension scheme. Those pension entitlements are the key additional benefits associated with a post of this nature. They are dependent on length of service and the conditions of the person who is eventually successful in the competition. Broadly speaking, the three categories that would apply are people who joined the Civil Service before 2011, those who joined post 2011 and members of the single pension scheme.