Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In essence, yes. When a post is advertised in open competition, we never know who will apply. For a position of that importance for the State, we certainly want the best people in the world to apply. Having a revised salary was certainly an attraction for people to apply. A number of international candidates applied to the process and, ultimately, the members of the Top-Level Appointments Committee, TLAC, conducted the interviews with the support of the Public Appointments Service and arrived at a single name. One name was provided to the Minister for Health and he brought it to the Government. It is up to TLAC to provide up to three names. In my case, for example, as Deputies will be aware, I decided on an open competition for a successor appointment in my Department and I was given three names by TLAC following that open competition process. It was then a matter for me to consider the options and to bring one name to the Government, and that is what I did.