THE Association of Higher Civil Servants represents about 1,800 principal officers and assistant principal officers throughout the Civil Service, along with senior staff in An Post and Telecom Eireann.
Secretaries and assistant secretaries are recruited from their ranks and are responsible for ensuring Government policy is implemented within their Departments. They are also expected to provide advice on policy to secretaries, and to deal directly with Ministers on matters of policy and its implementation.
Assistant principal officers earn between £25,000 and £30,500, while principal officers earn between £34,000 and £40,000. Principal officers in the Department of Finance earn up to £43,000.