To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister when their Department will appoint a Permanent Secretary.

The role of the Permanent Secretary at the Executive Office is being filled on an interim basis by David Malcolm, following his success in a NICS-wide temporary promotion exercise open to all substantive NICS Grade 3s. David took up the post on 17 June 2024, and joins TEO from his former position as a Deputy Secretary with the Department for the Economy.

This temporary promotion arrangement is expected to last for six to twelve months. During this time a review of the most recent substantive Permanent Secretary recruitment competition will be undertaken, and a new recruitment competition to fill the TEO Permanent Secretary vacancy on a substantive basis will be progressed.