Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has been able to overcome the obstacles which have prevented professional civil servants from applying for administrative posts in the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37031/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Arrangements in respect of the running of internal promotion competitions in the Civil Service are agreed between the official and staff sides in the forum of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for the Civil Service. In general, there is currently no central agreement to allow Technical and Professional Grades to compete for General Service positions, and vice versa, but access to recruitment competitions is open to all suitably qualified candidates.

I am in favour of providing the widest possible candidate pool for posts in the Civil Service and it is my intention to seek progress in this area under the provisions of the Croke Park Agreement.