Candidates for State boards asked to sign declaration about their social media activities
Vacancies Pre Candidates Checks Enhanced For File State Picture Employment Will Searches Domain Boards Public On For
Candidates for State boards are being asked to sign a declaration that there is nothing in their past that will cause bad publicity for them or the organisation they are appointed to.
The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is asking for a self-declaration that there is no material on public record or social media content that could “negatively impact” on their appointment.
The PAS has also hired a firm to provide enhanced pre-employment checks after controversy over social media tweets led to the resignation of the chairman of a State board early this year.
Internal records detail how discussions began in late February on how best to tackle issues around the social media past of candidates for State boards.
A senior official in PAS wrote to a colleague saying: “We are thinking of having some form of declaration for candidates applying for State board positions.
“Something to the effect that ‘there is nothing on public record or on any social media channels that may prohibit my appointment.’ Would you have any advice on this or is it something that we would need to seek legal advice on?”
A follow-up email in March said: “We cannot seem to identify anyone who could carry out social media checks so would this cover us?”
A response to the query, according to records released under FOI, said: “I would suggest something along the following lines.
A few weeks later, the PAS began a process to contract a company to provide enhanced pre-employment checks for candidates.
A copy of the request for quotes said: “PAS is looking to further develop its application process for vacancies on State boards as required.
“In particular, PAS will look to further enhance its assurance procedures with regard to candidate suitability and qualification.”
Ashtree Risk Group were successful and hired by the PAS.
In correspondence with Ashtree, the PAS said the checks should cover employment history, qualifications, director checks, sanctions watch list, and public domain searches.
Also specified were trawls of EU consolidated blacklists, credit judgments, financial checks, and “any specialist checks required for specific campaigns”.
A letter said: “PAS will have secured written informed consent from each person before sending the names securely.”
The changes followed embarrassment for the Government early this year when the new chairman of a State board was forced to resign within a day of his appointment by environment minister Eamon Ryan.
Aaron Forde was picked as the new chairman of the Shannon Group from a panel of three candidates, but stepped down after controversial posts on Twitter came to light.
A spokeswoman for the Public Appointments Service said: “Since April 2021, we require all applicants to complete a self-declaration form.”