Agency set for scrap seeks €360k PR contract
The National Consumer Agency (NCA), which is due to be merged with the Competition Authority, is looking for a chief executive on a salary of €130,000 to €137,000. Previously, the salary for this position was about €180,000.
The NCA has also tendered for a three-year contract for public relations services worth a maximum of €360,000.
The announcements come despite the fact the merged Competition Authority/Consumer Agency will not have a chief executive.
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation defended the decision to advertise for the position, stating that a new chief executive was required under law and that the successful applicant would become an “ordinary member” of the merged body once it is formed.
“The National Consumer Agency has statutory consumer protection and enforcement functions to carry out under the Consumer Protection Act 2007 and various pieces of EU legislation,” a statement read.
“In order to carry these out there is a requirement that the organisation has a CEO.”
“In order to ensure that the NCA can properly carry out its functions in advance of the merger, and also to ensure continuity with the new body following the stepping down of Ann Fitzgerald as CEO, it was decided to recruit a new CEO who would also be a member-designate of the new merged Competition Authority/Consumer Agency.
“In effect, subject to the finalisation and enactment of the legislation, it is expected that this person will have responsibility for consumer issues within the merged body.”
Under the legislation which is being drafted, it is proposed that the merged Competition Authority/Consumer Agency will have one chairperson and between two and six ordinary members.
This mirrors the current structure of the Competition Authority and is a different structure from other public bodies where there is a chief executive and a board.
The expected timeframe for the merger is 12-18 months, according to the job description for the chief executive role.
A spokesman for the NCA also defended the decision to tender for public relations services stating that the value and length of the contract were maximum values inserted due to the “uncertainty regarding the timelines for the merger”.
“The tender notice requires a maximum value to be inserted.
“This does not mean that the contract will be for this amount as the tendering process for PR services is designed to achieve the best overall supplier/value for the tenderer.
“The final cost will solely depend on the tenders submitted and how much work the final successful supplier is required to do,” the spokesman said.
