THE GOVERNMENT has approved major changes to the way top civil servants are appointed, effectively giving control of the selection process to outsiders.
The Cabinet this week agreed to proposals by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, to give private sector representatives a majority on the Top Level Appointments Commission.
Under the plan, the chairperson of the commission would also come from outside the public service.
The proposal is similar to one tabled by former Green minister Eamon Ryan to the previous government last year which was never executed.
The current programme for government contains a commitment to overhaul top-level appointments in the public sector by appointing the chairperson and the majority of members from outside the service.
A spokeswoman for Mr Howlin said public-sector reform was a key element of the programme for government.
Under the proposals, five of the eight members of the commission will be from outside the public service and one of these will be the chairperson.
Currently, only one member is external.
Mr Howlin will bring forward proposals on the external members of the commission to a future Cabinet meeting, the spokeswoman said.
The Croke Park agreement for reforming the public service says that in order to ensure a high-performing, high-productivity public service, “appropriately skilled personnel” from outside will have to be recruited.
Since 2007, people outside the Civil Service have been allowed to apply for the top positions in Government departments and agencies – secretary general and assistant secretary general – but on a limited basis.
In the 3½ years to last year, some 300 external candidates have applied for positions and only one was appointed. That person was a former civil servant.
The composition of the commission includes the secretary general to the Government (ex officio); the second secretary general in the Department of Finance (ex officio); a private sector member; two other secretaries general and the secretary general of the department in which the post is being filled.