17Merit appointments

17 Merit appointments

17 Merit appointments

(1) For the purpose of determining the merit of persons eligible for appointment to a vacant STA officer’s position, the Transport Secretary must have regard to—

(a) the nature of the duties of the position, and

(b) the abilities, qualifications, experience, standard of work performance and personal qualities of eligible persons that are relevant to the performance of the duties of the position.

(2) If a vacant STA officer’s position has been advertised, the Transport Secretary must, subject to section 16(5), select from among the applicants eligible for appointment the applicant who, in the opinion of the Transport Secretary, has the greatest merit.

(3) If a vacant STA officer’s position has not been advertised, the Transport Secretary—

(a) may appoint a person who is not an STA officer, or

(b) may appoint an STA officer by way of promotion if the STA officer has, in the opinion of the Transport Secretary, the greatest merit of the STA officers eligible for promotion, or

(c) may appoint an STA officer by way of transfer or regression.

(4) This section applies to a vacant STA officer’s position advertised within or outside the Transport Service, or both.