Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 610: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which the internal promotion competitions were last held for the following grades, promotion to principal officer, promotion to assistant principal officer, promotion to higher executive officer and promotion to staff officer or executive officer; the number of applications for each grade and the numbers placed on panels for possible appointments; the numbers from each panel that has been appointed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35356/12]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 611: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will detail for each internal promotional competition whether prior approval was obtained from the Department of Finance; if he will detail for each competition the costs incurred by his Department in holding them; if any of the competitions gave rise to complaints under the code of the Commission for Public Service Appointments; when new promotional competitions are likely to be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35357/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 610 and 611 together. In respect of internal promotion competitions for the grades identified by the Deputy the following table provides the relevant details:

The costs set out above relate to payments to external interview board members, refreshments for interview boards and in relation to the Staff Officer/Executive Officer competitions the Department's contribution to Public Appointments Service costs.

As the Deputy will be aware in March 2009 the Government introduced a moratorium on the filling of vacancies in the public service, either by way of recruitment or promotion. Normally sanction is not received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to run internal competitions, however sanction has to be obtained to effect any promotions. I am advised the necessary sanctions to make the above promotions were obtained.

In respect of the five competitions held above no complaints arose in respect of four of them, three complaints were made in respect of the promotion to Assistant Principal Officer competition.

It is not envisaged that any internal promotion competitions will be held any sooner that 30 June 2013 as the present panels for all grades are in place until then.