Cardiff successor hunt cost €85,000

The recruitment process for the post of secretary general at the Department of Finance cost €85,000 — with the post finally going to an internal candidate.

The post was advertised in October after Kevin Cardiff announced he was leaving the role to become Ireland’s representative at the European Court of Auditors.

Figures released following a Freedom of Information request by TV3 show that, so far, €75,000 has been spent on recruiting his replacement. The job advertisement cost €10,000 while a further €65,000 was spent on two “executive search” firms tasked with identifying the best candidates for the role internally, nationally, and internationally.

TV3 said it had been told by the Public Appointments Service that it was waiting for an invoice for a further €10,000.

The appointments service justified the spend, saying the use of executive search was generally accepted best practice and that the process generated a strong field of highly capable candidates.

There were 21 candidates for the job. In the end, the decision was made to promote John Moran from his role as the department’s head of banking.

Mr Cardiff’s move to Brussels created controversy when the European Parliament’s key budgetary control committee voted against him taking the position.

However, intense lobbying by the Government won the backing of the three largest political groups.