Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In response to the Deputy's question, the Public Appointments Service, PAS, in the course of running recruitment competitions for the public service, avails of trained and experienced individuals from the private and public sectors. Those assisting in this that are in receipt of a public or private sector salary receive no payment whatsoever. A fee per day is paid to retired individuals and to those from the private sector who forego earnings in order to facilitate PAS. The list of individuals who assist PAS in undertaking its task is constantly changing but would number several hundred. It would include retired public servants who act as interviewers, assessors or as decisions arbitrators. At any given time, there would be approximately 60 active who would be used from time to time for short periods.

For this work, retired individuals are paid on a fee-per-day basis and are subject to tax and other relevant deductions. The fees are linked to pre-retirement grades and take account of the principle of pension abatement. These positions are not advertised but any trained professional can apply to PAS to be placed on the database for our selection boards.

The outgoing chairman of the Public Appointments Service board, who is a former civil servant, was reappointed by me in September 2011 and is paid a stipend of €11,970 per annum. The chairperson of the PAS internal audit committee is also a former public servant and was paid a fee of €2,137.50 in 2012. She was appointed by the former chief executive of the PAS on the basis of her experience in the area of corporate governance.

The Office of Public Works has engaged the services of a former member of staff for the period of the EU Presidency. This person was selected because of previous experience of EU Presidencies and other important events. The abatement principle was considered to be a cost-effective way of contributing to the smooth running of all Presidency events in Dublin Castle. The cost of that person's services to the OPW is approximately €28,000. Other than in the bodies already mentioned, no retired public sector workers are currently on my Department's payroll.

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