Margaret McCabe
Chief Executive Officer
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Margaret McCabe is the Chief Executive of the Public Appointments Service (PAS), a position she took up on 1 January 2023. In this role, Margaret is the Accounting Officer for the Vote of the PAS. She is answerable to the Board for the effective leadership, management and control of the administration and business of the Public Appointments Service. As Chief Executive she has responsibility for the development and implementation of strategy. This includes keeping abreast of developments in the recruitment industry and achieving greater efficiencies to maximise the quality and range of services provided for client organisations and candidates within available resources. Margaret is also guardian of the values and reputation of the organisation.
A career civil servant Margaret has extensive experience in the area of Recruitment & Selection. Prior to becoming Chief Executive, she was Chief Operations Officer and she previously held the position of Head of Recruitment & Selection, overseeing recruitment to the civil service, local government, An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive in the Public Appointments Service. Margaret holds a Masters in HR and a Higher Diploma from the IPA and she is a graduate of Common Purpose.
A proud Leitrim woman, Margaret attended Marymount College (post primary school) in Carrick on Shannon, and joined the civil service when she left school. Her first post was as a clerical assistant. She has since worked her way to the top of the Public Appointments Service becoming the first internal Chief Executive Officer in the organisation in 22 years.
A champion of a strong public sector ethos, Margaret is committed to a public service that is equal, diverse and inclusive.
Michelle Noone
Head of Senior & Executive Recruitment
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Using executive search methodologies to identify high quality candidates for Senior Executive & Board level appointments. Responsible for the provision of an open, efficient, and effective gateway and process to identify top quality people for consideration by Ministers for appointment to State Boards.
Niall Leavy
Head of Market Engagement
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Responsible for supporting the Management Board on a number of key strategic research and development projects, that assist the organisation to identify, and prepare for adopting, market-leading approaches to recruitment and assessment, and help ensure continuous delivery of excellent service to clients across the public sector.
Sandra Cairns
Head of Talent Acquisition for the Civil Service
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Responsible for driving best practices in recruitment and selection to identify high quality candidates for diverse roles across the Civil Service. Ensuring consistently high standards of service delivery to enable a responsive recruitment model which takes into account the evolving requirements of clients and candidates in a competitive environment.
Catherine Dobbins
Head of Corporate Services
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Responsible for corporate services, including People and Culture, Finance, and Compliance & Quality Assurance (which incorporates Formal Reviews under the CPSA Codes of Practice and all corporate governance functions).
Aoife Lyons
Senior Psychologist - Assessment Services
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Putting effective, efficient, and best practice assessment measures in place to select the best possible candidates for our clients.
Rosemarie O'Mahony
Head of Digital Transformation, Strategy & Innovation
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Overseeing strategy execution so that the Public Appointments Service delivers on our mission and vision and is positioned to respond to challenges and effectively harness opportunities to enhance our services. Overseeing the delivery of the organisation’s Digital Transformation Programme to future-proof our IT solutions and services, improve organisational performance, and position the Public Appointments Service as a leader in digital recruitment.
Sinead Coleman
Head of Talent Acquisition for the Public Service
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To ensure that appropriate structures, policies and procedures are in place to meet the Public Appointment Service's Recruitment and Selection responsibilities across the Public Service, and to oversee the compliance, quality assurance, IT, budget, estimates, and audit functions relating to this work. Maintaining reporting relationships with relevant client Departments and public bodies in relation to the recruitment and selection services provided.
Eimear O’Connor
Head of Recruitment Operations & Service Delivery
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Meet our Board
The Current Board of PAS is as follows:
- Mr. Tom Moran,
Chairperson - Dr. Eddie Molloy,
Independent Consultant - Ms. Anne Marie Taylor,
HR Consultant - Ms. Mary Connaughton
CIPD Ireland Director - Ms. Yvonne Cooke,
Acting Executive Director of Human Resources and People Development, An Garda Síochána - Ms. Fiona Quinn,
Assistant Secretary, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage - Ms. Margaret McCabe,
CEO, Public Appointments Service