1 The Director for Corporate Services, Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism invites applications from Public Officers for the post of Senior Counsellor in the Diplomatic Service in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism. Such officers who are on secondment/on loan/detailed with/deployed with/on attachment to Public Sector Organisations may also apply.

2.1 This appointment is subject to a probationary period of one (1) year.

2.2 The salary for the post of Senior Counsellor is Salary Scale 4, which in the year 2025 is equivalent to, €41,530 per annum.

2.3 Senior Counsellors in the Diplomatic Service are directly responsible for senior management in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, including its Missions overseas, and are expected to be ready to assume positions of Director General, Director and Head of Mission as required.

2.4 Appointees will also be entitled to the payment of an annual class allowance of €3,800, subject to Central Administration’s policies in force from time to time.

2.5 Officers serving overseas will be granted the financial allowances and benefits provided for in the Conditions of Service for Officers Serving Overseas.

2.6 In terms of the requirements emanating from Directive 16, regarding the “Governing Framework for Preventing and Managing Conflicts of Interest in the Public Administration”, issued by the Principal Permanent Secretary on 27th November 2023 and which came into force on 1st February 2024, the Selection Board will assess candidates’ previous employments to assess potential conflicts of interest.  In this respect, candidates are to provide a completely updated CV, including qualifications and employment history with their application. Any potential conflict of interest matters noted will be reported to the respective Permanent Secretary, to ensure that should the candidate be recruited, such conflicts of interest would be appropriately managed.

3. The job duties for the post of Senior Counsellor may be viewed in Annex A attached to this Circular.

4.1 By the closing time and date of this call for applications, applicants:

i. must be Public Officers in the grade of First Counsellor (Salary Scale 5) with five (5) years' experience in Salary Scale 5;

ii. must have served in a posting of not less than three (3) years plus a number of years in a second posting in Missions abroad and/or other recognised International Institution/s as determined by the Permanent Secretary.

4.2 Public Officers holding a grade in a particular stream, and who were granted Officer in Scale status by virtue of a Grievances Unit decision in the same scale as that of a higher grade in that stream, are eligible to apply for grades open to officers holding such higher grade within the stream that carries the same scale as that of the Officer in Scale status.

The years of service since the effective date of appointment as Officer in Scale are reckonable for the purpose of satisfying any requisite years of service stipulated in calls for applications. 

Any other eligibility requisites for the post must be met in terms of this call for applications.