Selection Of Top Civil Servant In Focus

There's controversy today after the Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland expressed their 'grave concern' about the proposed arrangements for the appointment of the next Head of the NI Civil Service (NICS) by way of an internal competition.

The organisation is tasked with ensuring government jobs are given on merit and has today made public its concerns about the recruitment after Sir Bruce Robinson retires.

Commissioners are concerned that his successor will be chosen through an internal trawl instead of open competition after it was advertised internally today (Monday) with an annual salary of about £140,000.

Sir Bruce Robinson, the current Head of the Civil Service, wrote to Commissioners on 29 July to inform them of the process he was initiating to appoint his successor.

While the Commissioners acknowledge that the running of internal competitions is a matter for the NICS, they are, however, concerned to ensure that the 'Merit Principle' is upheld in spirit and in practice and that, where possible and appropriate, a diverse range of potential candidates, from within and beyond the NICS, have the opportunity to apply for senior appointments.

Commenting on this, Brenda McLaughlin, Chairperson said: "While the decision to hold an internal competition is a matter for the NICS, our view is that the Merit Principle is best served through fair and open competition."

The Commissioners have asked for an early meeting with Sir Bruce Robinson to discuss this matter especially as, under the Civil Service Commissioners (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, Commissioners have a statutory duty to ensure that appointments to the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) are made on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition (known as the Merit Principle).

The Order also requires Commissioners to publish a Recruitment Code on the interpretation and application of the Merit Principle. Adherence to the Commissioners' Recruitment Code is mandatory for all Departments and Agencies making appointments to the NICS.

However, Commissioners do not make appointments themselves as the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) is responsible for determining the regulations for appointment to the NICS and for setting, and ensuring compliance with, NICS recruitment policy.

This afternoon, the Alliance Finance and Personnel Spokesperson Judith Cochrane MLA has expressed concern that the next head of the civil service in Northern Ireland could be appointed through an internal trawl rather than open competition.

"We would like to see an open and public process for recruiting the next head of the civil service.

"It is vital there is total clarity and transparency on this issue because the public must have total confidence in the appointment process.

"This post is an extremely important role and I strongly believe it would be best to try and cast the net as widely as possible to try and gain the best possible person for the job," she said.

(BMcC/GK)