Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In general, recruitment to public service posts is on the basis of competition open to all eligible candidates. However, to respond to particular needs, former civil and public servants may be re-engaged in areas where specific expertise is required for a short, fixed period and where they provide a level of knowledge, experience and background that is compatible with requirements. If former civil or public servants are re-engaged, their pension may be subject to abatement. This means they cannot receive more by way of pension and salary than they would have received had they remained in their former employment. Former civil and public servants who retired under the Incentivised Early Retirement Scheme are not permitted to take up any employment in the same sector from which they have retired, other than in exceptional circumstances. In the case of the recent HSE Voluntary Early Retirement scheme, it is a specific condition of the scheme that people availing of the scheme will not be eligible for re-employment in the public health sector or in the wider public service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys. The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the HSE Voluntary Redundancy scheme also, except that the prohibition will be for a period of seven years, after which time any re-employment will require the approval of the Minister for Finance. These provisions also apply to re-employment on a contract for service basis in respect of all schemes. There are a number of programmes such as the FÁS Work Placement Programme which provide opportunities within the public service for unemployed persons to retain their skill levels and/or secure work experience that will assist them in getting a job. The FÁS Programme comprises two streams, one for graduates and one for other unemployed persons. The Programme is available to the civil and public service.