Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach
Estimates for Public Services
Vote 11 - Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Revised)
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Chairman. I am happy to do that and respond in writing to the report. While we are still considering some aspects of it I have come to a view as to what needs to be done in respect of the main recommendations. I am happy to commit to writing to the committee with my response, including a response to each of the recommendations made. What I am confirming today is a significant move. It is the setting up of an independent panel outside the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. We will provide secretarial and technical assistance to support the work of the individuals who will be on that panel. I need to get the balance of the composition of that panel right in relation to private sector background, as well as public sector background.
I want the panel to do its work as quickly as possible. Quite substantive issues must be considered here, namely, the selection and recruitment of people to fill the most senior roles in our Civil Service and public service. I have already given a commitment to a review of the Top-Level Appointments Committee, TLAC. That will now be folded into this review. This will be part of that work as well. It will look at the composition of TLAC. I am aware the committee made a recommendation that there be a majority of people from a public service background on TLAC. I take a different view. Currently, TLAC has a majority of people from outside the civil and public service, which is a better overall balance, especially when we are trying to attract more people from the private sector into the civil and public service. There is also the issue of pay determination. As I said, I am not accepting at this point the committee's recommendation to set up a higher remuneration review body because having looked over the history of this matter, there are issues that would need to be carefully thought through. I will ask the independent panel to come back to me with a view on that. I will then make a recommendation to Government on that issue.