Press release
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee welcomes launch of competition for CEO of new DSGBV agency
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has welcomed the launch of an open competition by the Public Appointments Service for the recruitment of a CEO for the new Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) statutory agency.
The Agency will be established under the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023 which was published by Minister McEntee earlier this week, and will be dedicated to tackling and reducing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and supporting victims and survivors.
The successful candidate will be appointed by the Minister for a 5-year fixed-term contract following recruitment through the open competition, which is being run by the Public Appointments Service.
Minister McEntee said:
“The establishment of a new DSGBV Agency is a key step in tackling the scourge of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland. The fact that we are advertising for the role of CEO of this Agency before it has been set up, and even before the Bill underpinning it has been enacted, underlines our commitment to ensuring strong leadership is in place to stand up the new Agency and begin its important work as soon as possible.
"As I outlined earlier this week, it is my intention to have this Bill enacted before the end of the year so that the Agency can begin its work in January 2024. The advertisement for the position of the CEO at this juncture will help us realise this goal and I look forward to working with colleagues in the Oireachtas over the coming weeks and months to ensure that we can achieve this ambitious timeline.”
The new Agency will work collaboratively with the NGO and DSGBV services sector to ensure that the best possible services are in place to meet the needs of victims and survivors. It will drive change and reform across Government and society as a whole towards the end goal of the third national strategy – zero tolerance of DSGBV in Irish society. It will require, and will be provided with, substantial, dedicated and permanent resourcing. It is envisaged that the Agency, headed by the CEO, will have over 30 staff members.
The CEO will be responsible to the Minister for Justice for his or her performance and for the performance of the Agency as a whole. The CEO’s statutory responsibilities will include producing a multiannual corporate plan and annual business plan for the Agency, which are to be submitted to the Minister for approval.
Strategic guidance and oversight of the Agency will be provided by an expert non-executive Board, while the department will also monitor the corporate governance and performance of the Agency in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.