Roderic O'Gorman
Ceist:234. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the next first secretary (assistant principal officer) competition will open to applicants. [30078/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 28 April 2026
Ceisteanna (234)
Freagraí scríofa
First Secretary is a key grade within the Irish diplomatic service and my department seeks to recruit First Secretaries who have the necessary personal qualities, skills and attributes to undertake the demanding and varying responsibilities of the position, including representing Ireland abroad.
First Secretaries are appointed from open, interdepartmental and internal competitions.
Publicjobs is the main provider of recruitment services to the Department and to the wider civil service. Open competitions for First Secretary are advertised on the Department's website and on the Publicjobs website which, through an email alert service, notifies potential candidates when jobs of interest to them are advertised. Interdepartmental competitions for First Secretary are circulated by civil service organisations and managed by Publicjobs. Publicjobs currently have a live First Secretary panel which is due to expire on 31 December 2026. It is not expected that Publicjobs will launch another open or interdepartmental First Secretary competition this year.
An internal competition for promotion to First Secretary was launched on 15 April 2026.