Civil Service (United Kingdom) programme itself. The position of 'Minister for the Civil Service' is not part of the Civil Service as it is a political position which has always been held by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The highest ranking civil servant in the country is the Cabinet Secretary. A subsidiary title that was also held by the incumbent was "Head of the Home Civil Service" or more recently sometimes styled "Head of the Civil Service", who until recently was also the incumbent Cabinet Secretary and Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office. However, following the Coalition Government of David Cameron the
Civil Service of the Republic of Ireland positions are recruited openly by the Public Appointments Service (formerly the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission). The current Social Partnership agreement "Towards 2016" allows for a proportion of the previously internally filled positions to be advisertised and filled externally, at the grades of Principal Officer, Assistant Principal and Higher Executive Officer. Many positions at Assistant Secretary level (generally the second most senior grade in a Government Department) have also been advertised externally in recent years. In some departments or offices, particularly at senior levels in the Civil Service of the State, different titles (such as Director or Commissioner) may