Senior appointments

Mrs Carmen Ciantar (The Sunday Times, August 15) poses questions about the selection criteria used to fill headship positions in the public service.

Detailed information on the selection criteria for headship positions is available to prospective applicants in the form of a document which was posted on the Public Service Intranet in April. Calls for applications for headship positions now routinely make reference to this document.

While the Senior Appointments Selection Committee may seek references, such references are not determining factors and the Committee makes its own assessment of candidates' track record and suitability for the post on the basis of the criteria set out in the document.