GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK 2019 Contents Joint Foreword from Chair and Chief Executive .....................................................................................................4 Introduction to the PAS Governance Framework ....................................................................................................5 Background ............................................................................................................................................................5 1. Good Governance ..........................................................................................................................................5 2. Scope of Standard ...........................................................................................................................................5 3. Context of Civil Service Renewal Plan ........................................................................................................6 4. Links with Existing Guidance on Governance.............................................................................................6 5. Flexibility within this Standard.......................................................................................................................6 6. Publication of Governance Arrangements .................................................................................................7 7. Constitutional and Legal Framework ...........................................................................................................7 Key requirements of the Standard for PAS .....................................................................................................7 PAS Governance Principles .........................................................................................................................................8 Key Legal and Administrative Accountabilities ..............................................................................................9 Role of PAS staff in good governance ......................................................................................................... 10 Overview of the PAS Governance Framework .................................................................................................... 11 Checklist of key items within the PAS Governance Framework ............................................................... 12 Commitments to good governance practice ................................................................................................ 12 1. Overview of the Public Appointments Service................................................................................................. 13 Core Element A: Purpose of PAS .................................................................................................................... 14 Core Element B: Core Values, Behaviours and Culture of PAS ................................................................ 16 Core Element C: Organisation Structures ..................................................................................................... 17 Core Element D: Strategic Planning, Decision Making & Performance Management ......................... 19 Core Element E: Internal Communications ..................................................................................................... 20 Core Element F: Engagement with External Stakeholders ........................................................................ 20 Core Element G: Review of Effectiveness of Governance Framework ................................................. 20 2. The Board of PAS, Senior Management Roles & Assignment of Responsibilities ..................................... 21 Core Element A: Relationship with Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform ...................................... 22 Core Element B: The Governance Role of the Board of PAS ................................................................... 23 Core Element C: Chief Executive and Accounting Officer ....................................................................... 24 Leadership and Organisational Capacity/Capability ..................................................................... 26 Responsibilities of all Staff ..................................................................................................................... 27 Core Element D: Assignment of Senior Management Roles & Responsibilities ..................................... 27 3. PAS Management Board and other Governance Structures ........................................................................ 28 Core Element A: ................................................................................................................................................. 28 1. Purpose of the Management Board ................................................................................................ 28 2. Membership of the Management Board ......................................................................................... 28 3. Frequency of meetings ....................................................................................................................... 29 4. Quorum .................................................................................................................................................. 29 Governance Framework – Public Appointments Service (PAS). Page 2 5. Relationship with the Board of PAS ................................................................................................. 29 6. Matters which are dealt with by the Management Board .......................................................... 29 7. Information for meetings: ................................................................................................................... 30 8. Roles on the Management Board ..................................................................................................... 30 9. Senior Management Team ................................................................................................................. 31 10. Recruitment & Selection Group ...................................................................................................... 31 12. Risk Management Group ................................................................................................................. 32 13. Performance and Evaluation ........................................................................................................... 32 14. Support to the Management Board .............................................................................................. 32 4. Audit, Assurance & Compliance Arrangements in PAS .................................................................................. 34 Core Element A: Audit and Assurance Arrangements ............................................................................... 34 Accounting Officer – Statement of Financial Control ........................................................................ 34 Statement on Internal Financial Control ................................................................................................................. 35 Responsibility for System of Internal Financial Control.............................................................................. 35 Risk and Control Framework ................................................................................................................... 37 Ongoing Monitoring and Review ........................................................................................................... 37 Review of Effectiveness ............................................................................................................................. 37 Internal Financial Control Issues .............................................................................................................. 37 The Internal Audit function in PAS ......................................................................................................... 38 Role of PAS Finance Unit......................................................................................................................... 38 Risk Management ..................................................................................................................................... 39 Core Element B: Compliance Framework ..................................................................................................... 40 Purpose of the Compliance Framework ............................................................................................... 40 Regulatory requirements specific to PAS ............................................................................................. 40 Development of PAS Compliance Framework .................................................................................... 42 Governance Framework – Public Appointments Service (PAS). Page 3 Joint Foreword from Chair and Chief Executive The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is an independent public body responsible for providing recruitment and selection services across the Irish civil and public service. PAS has a key role to play in shaping the civil and public service of the future given its recruitment and resourcing obligations, and this Governance Framework document sets out the procedures and practices that are in place to ensure that PAS operates, at all times, to the highest civil service standards in fulfilling its legislative mandate. Central to