Cochrane concern at process for appointing next head of civil service

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.

Judith Cochrane MLA said: “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.”

ENDS