Principal Officer in the Civil Service

Rosen · 19-06-2018 10:54AM

The Veteran wrote: »

Haven’t seen an AP competition advertised and it’s practically the end of Q2, 2018 (the PQ says Q2). The comment on an EO competition is interesting considering PAS are scheduling four weeks of interviews for EOs starting in early August.

I would say all of those dates are “indicative” and only relate to the launch of competitions not the creation of panels. The current PO panel came from a competition that was advertised in June 2017, closing date July 2017, interviews in September 2017, appointments from December 2017 and still ongoing.

Meanwhile at least three Departments have had Internal competitions in recent months; one of which is at the interview stage now, one has just been completed and one has made 3-4 appointments from their panel.

There doesn’t seem to be any coherence or regulation to how it all works. That PQ answer is technically correct but completely ignores internal competitions, the apparent disregard Depts have for the Open panel and the age it takes to go from launching a competition to making appointments.

I agree re the sequencing of appointments, its a mild inconvenience to most Departments. Since 2015, it is supposed to be 2 Open to 1 internal in that sequence - I don't know of any Dept. that follows it.

Maybenever · 18-07-2018 03:44PM

Any sign of movement on this?

Uriel. · 18-07-2018 05:37PM

Maybenever wrote: »

Any sign of movement on this?

Good few appointments either made or coming through in next couple of weeks.

Bowiegal · 18-07-2018 06:43PM

Uriel. wrote: »

Good few appointments either made or coming through in next couple of weeks.

Wonder where they are up to on the panel? Must be 50’s by now.

Riskymove · 19-07-2018 09:23AM

Bowiegal wrote: »

Must be 50’s by now.

Not quite yet

Rosen · 20-07-2018 03:59PM

Still plenty of internal promotions going on!!

Nocrac · 20-07-2018 10:26PM

Rosen wrote: »

Still plenty of internal promotions going on!!

Interesting; thanks. Is there anything that can be done about this?

Rosen · 22-07-2018 11:12AM

Nocrac wrote: »

Interesting; thanks. Is there anything that can be done about this?

DPER are supposed to monitor it but I don’t think that involves anything more than collecting data. The WRC would be the place to go if one felt the sequencing wasn’t being correctly followed. The agreement by General Council is pretty plain speaking, 2 open 1 confined in that order. Of course if figures were published it would be easier to make a case......

Uncle P · 26-07-2018 12:57PM

Rosen wrote: »

DPER are supposed to monitor it but I don’t think that involves anything more than collecting data. The WRC would be the place to go if one felt the sequencing wasn’t being correctly followed. The agreement by General Council is pretty plain speaking, 2 open 1 confined in that order. Of course if figures were published it would be easier to make a case......

I don't think Departments are under any practical obligation to follow the sequence in strict order each and every time they fill a post. For a start, that would mean each Department would have to have an internal panel in place at all times. It would also lead to occasions where a Department couldn't fill an urgent vacancy in the event of a delay in getting someone off the open panel.

My understanding is that Departments are generally allowed to accrue a certain amount of liabilities to either panel, on the understanding that they will discharge such liabilities before they become too excessive. I know of at least one Dept that has accrued significant internal promotion liabilities by virtue of having drawn exclusively from the open PO panel for more than 18 months pending a new internal competition.

Maybenever · 02-08-2018 03:32PM

I just got a message enquiring if I'd like to put myself forward for a PO position with the gardai. I assume if I do nothing it doesn't affect my position on the panel?

adrem · 07-08-2018 06:06PM

Anyone on here going forward for that PO position with the Gardai? The closing date is tomorrow.Apparently if you go forward and express interest in it but then decide not to take it you are no longer considered for any role in any region! I understood the logic of only getting one chance to take a role in one of the 2 selected regions but this seems tougher punishment for not proceeding !

dee75 · 22-08-2018 08:23PM

Can anyone tell me when this panel is due to expire?

I know it went live in November 2017.

According to an answer to a PQ there is something planned for PO level early in 2019, but could that be pulling a second batch from the 2017 competition, or does it mean a new competition?

Rosen · 23-08-2018 02:08PM

dee75 wrote: »

Can anyone tell me when this panel is due to expire?

I know it went live in November 2017.

According to an answer to a PQ there is something planned for PO level early in 2019, but could that be pulling a second batch from the 2017 competition, or does it mean a new competition?

Hi,

From the original booklet:

“Appointments from panels -
At the end of the selection process a panel(s) of qualified candidates is formed from which vacancies may be filled. This panel may remain in place for up to two years.”

When the panel was formed, the PAS told me the panel was going to be in place for 2 years. A phone call to the PAS ( who are easy to deal with to be fair) should answer your query for sure though.

Anyone have an idea what number the panel is at? I’m on a regional one and have heard nothing.

dee75 · 23-08-2018 02:16PM

Rosen wrote: »

Hi,

From the original booklet:

“Appointments from panels -
At the end of the selection process a panel(s) of qualified candidates is formed from which vacancies may be filled. This panel may remain in place for up to two years.”

When the panel was formed, the PAS told me the panel was going to be in place for 2 years. A phone call to the PAS ( who are easy to deal with to be fair) should answer your query for sure though.

Anyone have an idea what number the panel is at? I’m on a regional one and have heard nothing.

Thanks Rosen. I'm not on the panel and was just enquiring to see when it might be advertised again so I could apply!!

Looks like it will be November 2019....

Maybenever · 27-08-2018 02:50PM

Rosen wrote: »

Anyone have an idea what number the panel is at? I’m on a regional one and have heard nothing.

No idea but I'm in the same boat. I'm pretty far back tbf.

hardybuck · 30-08-2018 11:44AM

The answer for this will be very difficult to figure out because it appears that there are people holding on for a role in their preferred location.

So you might hear that number 55 got appointed, but you don't know if numbers 20-34 all turned it down because they didn't want to go to Dublin.

I'd be surprised if everyone on it wasn't offered positions - only 80 odd on it? Whether most people will actually take a position is another story.

Nocrac · 31-08-2018 08:21PM

hardybuck wrote: »

The answer for this will be very difficult to figure out because it appears that there are people holding on for a role in their preferred location.

So you might hear that number 55 got appointed, but you don't know if numbers 20-34 all turned it down because they didn't want to go to Dublin.

I'd be surprised if everyone on it wasn't offered positions - only 80 odd on it? Whether most people will actually take a position is another story.

You only get offered positions in your preferred locations. I'm fairly high up the panel and am first in one of my preferred regional locations but I haven't been offered anything yet (other than a particular position in Dublin mentioned earlier on this thread).

Rosen · 03-09-2018 10:16AM

Nocrac wrote: »

You only get offered positions in your preferred locations. I'm fairly high up the panel and am first in one of my preferred regional locations but I haven't been offered anything yet (other than a particular position in Dublin mentioned earlier on this thread).

I'm in the exact same boat Nocrac.

SJ. · 10-09-2018 04:32PM

Into the 50s at last!

urban sprawl · 13-09-2018 08:49PM

SJ. wrote: »

Into the 50s at last!

Have heard they're at 7 or 8 on the Counsellor panel also.

Glinda · 30-09-2018 04:29PM

So few of us left! :eek:

Anyone heard anything recently?

Bowiegal · 01-10-2018 08:48AM

Glinda wrote: »

So few of us left! :eek:

Anyone heard anything recently?

Where is the panel at now?

hardybuck · 01-10-2018 09:11AM

FWIW, 2 x PO1s appointments in DPER between Sept and Oct.

Riskymove · 01-10-2018 09:38AM

Bowiegal wrote: »

Where is the panel at now?

for Dublin its around 60

however there are many people still higher on the panel waiting for outside Dublin

Maybenever · 01-10-2018 11:39AM

Riskymove wrote: »

for Dublin its around 60

however there are many people still higher on the panel waiting for outside Dublin

Do you know what the overall proportion is of people on the panel that only have regional placement v. Dublin / nationwide?

Aitor · 01-10-2018 11:42AM

Riskymove wrote: »

for Dublin its around 60

however there are many people still higher on the panel waiting for outside Dublin

Are they likely to open a new conpetition or will they call further people to interview from this competition, I wonder?

Riskymove · 01-10-2018 12:30PM

Maybenever wrote: »

Do you know what the overall proportion is of people on the panel that only have regional placement v. Dublin / nationwide?

No I don't sorry

I know someone in the top 20 still waiting

Riskymove · 01-10-2018 12:31PM

Aitor wrote: »

Are they likely to open a new conpetition or will they call further people to interview from this competition, I wonder?

I think a new competition by early 2019 will be needed for Dublin.

the question will be if they just run a Dublin competition and leave the remaining panel as a national one for a bit longer

hardybuck · 01-10-2018 01:03PM

Riskymove wrote: »

I think a new competition by early 2019 will be needed for Dublin.

the question will be if they just run a Dublin competition and leave the remaining panel as a national one for a bit longer

Sequence might be for Departments to run internal comps, or exhaust whatever they have, between now and next spring. That'll take care of some of the Dublin demand, and allow for sorting out of some regional people.

PAS might then launch another competition either before year end or early in 2019, with a panel ready potentially before the summer.

Riskymove · 01-10-2018 03:19PM

Riskymove wrote: »

for Dublin its around 60

it seems to actually be around 50 still

I thought it had progressed further but apparently not

Principal Officer in the Civil Service

Comments