Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 provides the regulatory framework for recruitment and selection that all civil and public service employers are required to adhere to. It provided for the establishment of the Commission for Public Service Appointments, CPSA, as the independent regulator for appointments made under the Act; the Public Appointments Service, PAS, as the centralised recruitment, assessment and selection body for the Civil Service; and for other public service bodies, where requested. In line with its statutory remit, the CPSA has published codes of practice on its website to ensure that standards of probity, merit, equity and fairness apply to recruitment selection processes undertaken by employers for appointments to the civil and public service made under the Act.

In relation to the specific issue of promotional opportunities for existing civil servants, they may be eligible to compete in internal competitions, which are confined to their own Civil Service Department or office, as well as interdepartmental competitions, which are open to existing eligible civil servants across all Departments and offices. There are a number of general criteria that apply to interdepartmental competitions for promotion in the Civil Service in relation to grading, number of years' service, the rating of the employee and suitability in terms of work performance and general conduct. No concerns around interdepartmental staff promotions within the Civil Service have been brought to the attention of officials in my Department. More generally, the CPSA accepts complaints from candidates where there are concerns that competitions were not conducted according to the Public Service Management Act 2004 and the relevant CPSA codes of practice. I am not aware of the issue being raised with the CPSA. More generally, the Deputy's concerns have not been raised with my Department at official level. I am sure if the Deputy has specific concerns, he will raise them here with me.

See this speech in context