Events

Date: 01/11/2012

On 1st November, Fiona Tierney, CEO of the Public Appointments Service provided  an overview on the role of PAS, in sourcing the highest quality candidates for positions  in the Civil and Public Service and facilitating the movement of public servants within  and between sectors. She demonstrated how PAS would ensure a more efficient and appropriate resourcing of all essential services. 25 ACESA members attended the meeting, held in a Dublin hotel.

Key Discussion Points

It was acknowledged that the government must achieve a substantial reduction in public expenditure, and there is a special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes in place to assist in this objective. The current moratorium on recruitment and promotion is part of this objective, as are incentivised schemes for reduction in public service numbers, the employment control framework, pay reductions and the pension levy. The situation makes for huge uncertainty in both the internal and external environments.

In this context Fiona outlined how new initiatives in redeployment, building on core selection competence and developing the selection competence across the public service will be deployed to tackle the various difficulties.

The PAS has also been given a role in improving the selection process for appointments to State Boards, a matter on which there is constant media criticism.  It is proposed to develop a set of key competencies for use in recruiting future Board members, ensuring that future candidates can demonstrate analytical strategic perspective, integrity and a focus on governance, skills in collaboration, personal accountability and commitment, communication and financial literacy.

The audience expressed great appreciation of the open style of the presenter, who answered questions directly and comprehensively, and took on board comments from participants. Members would like a follow-up session a year on, to hear about progress in the interim.