Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 95 of 24 November 2010, the number of internal competitions that have taken place in the past six years to fill posts in visa offices abroad; the date they were advertised; if these internal competitions were run in conformity with the terms and requirements of the code of practice of the Commission for Public Service Appointments; if his attention has been drawn to any allegations of a breach of the code; if any of these allegations were reviewed by the Commission for Public Service Appointments; if the commission upheld any complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47489/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's Human Resources Division has held some 75 competitions for promotion or other assignments over the past six years, including six external competitions under its recruitment licence. In all, some 3,800 applications have been processed through these competitions. Only six applicants sought a review in relation to alleged breaches of the Commission for Public Service Appointments' (CPSA) Code of Practice, four of which were ultimately reviewed by the CPSA and three of which related to one competition for assignment to Visa Officer posts at Executive Officer level held in 2008. While the CPSA partially upheld these allegations, on essentially technical grounds, none of their reviews concluded that the outcome of the selection process was affected. I would also add that the CPSA carried out a comprehensive audit of my Department's competitive selection processes in 2009 and found that it complied with the principles of its Code of Practice.

Specifically in relation to competitions for assignment to Visa Office posts, a total of 15 such competitions were held over the past six years, when assignments for all grade levels concerned are taken into account. Some competitions were for multiple locations, others for individual locations. Competitions for assignment to Higher Executive Officer or Administrative Officer level posts in Visa Offices were advertised on 27 May 2005, 24 January 2006, 20 September 2006, 29 May 2008, 19 November 2008 and 7 April 2010. Competitions for assignment to Executive Officer level posts were advertised on 27 May 2005, 20 September 2006 (for three separate locations), 15 February 2008, 29 May 2008 and 7 April 2010. Competitions for assignment to Clerical Officer level posts were advertised on 20 September 2006 and 18 November 2009. While such competitions are conducted in accordance with the principles set down in the CPSA's Code of Practice, the Commission advised earlier this year that the Code does not in fact apply to such assignments.

Finally, the Deputy will appreciate that not all applicants can be successful in competitions and some will understandably be disappointed. I think it is fair to say that this is more due to the nature of the competitive process, involving as it does relativity to other candidates, rather than any perceived weakness in the implementation of that process.