Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

The amendment would regulate promotions in the same manner as recruitment. The Bill provides in section 6(1) for the possibility that the commission may regulate promotions at some point in the future in that it allows the Minister to make orders extending the remit of the commission to posts in the public service, including recruitment posts. The Minister will consider whether to make such an order in due course.

Acceptance of this amendment, however, would automatically bring promotions within the remit of the commission. The Minister for Finance agreed with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that the Bill would regulate only recruitment at the outset and any extensions would be the subject of further consultations between the two Ministers before orders are made under section 6(1).

The proposed amendment does not appreciate the structure of the Bill. Provisions for the functions of the new bodies and codes of practice, in so far as they relate to promotion, are contained in relevant parts of the Bill. The key substantive provision dealing with promotion is set out in section 57.