Second Permanent Secretary

Ireland

In the Civil service of the Republic of Ireland, the position of secretary general of a Department of State is almost identical to that of a permanent secretary in the British Civil Service, except that the position is not permanent, having a term of seven years. This limit was introduced by the Strategic Management Initiative of the mid-1990s, when also the title was changed from "secretary". Irish government departments may also have a "second secretary", which is equivalent to the second permanent secretary grade in the British civil service.