IMPACT’s long-running campaign to open up civil service promotion procedures has succeeded, with the publication of a new circular, which confirms that any civil servant with the necessary skills, experience and attributes can compete for any promotion advertised.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform confirmed last summer that this was civil service policy. But IMPACT national secretary Eamonn Donnelly said the publication of the circular removes any doubt or discretion over its application.

The old system of restricting eligibility for promotion to staff in the same grading stream consistently discriminated against staff in technical and administrative grades and others.

A requirement to have at least two years service remains in place. But the circular confirms that staff on fixed-term contracts can also compete for promotions, in the same way as comparable permanent staff, if they have two years continuous or aggregate service.