Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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397. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the list for the filling of first secretary posts in the Department of Foreign Affairs is set to close in November 2023, six months shorter than the normal two years for which the list would be operational, March 2024; the number of candidates remaining on this list which was created in March 2022; the number remaining on the current list who came from the private sector [27188/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the primary recruiter for the civil service and establishes panels that individual civil service employers may access as vacancies fall to be filled.

PAS guidelines for the management of panels state that panels are typically active from 18 months to 2 years. In Interdepartmental circulars the last date of appointment from panels is 2 years from the advertised closing date. In the case of the Interdepartmental Competition for Promotion to First Secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DPER Circular 22/2021) the relevant closing date was 18th November 2021. The is the same approach and timeframe that applied for the previous First Secretary competition in 2018 (Circular 17/2018).

There are currently 18 candidates remaining on the First Secretary panel, of which 8 are from the private sector. As with all competitions, it is important to note that qualification and placement on a panel is not a guarantee of appointment to a position. Candidates may contact PAS directly regarding their placement on the panel.