Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

79. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Commission for Public Service Appointments avails of the services of a private firm of solicitors rather than using the expertise of the Chief State Solicitor's office, CSSO; if he will provide the reason for this; if he will provide details of the amount of legal fees incurred by the CPSA this year and for each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48705/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) is responsible for overseeing the conduct of appointment processes to a wide range of positions in the Civil and Public Service. In carrying out its independent statutory functions, the CPSA must, on occasions, seek independent legal advice on issues that come to light in the course of its examination of appointment processes. Given that the Civil Service Departments and Offices rely on the CSSO for their own legal advice, there is a strong risk of a conflict of interest arising if the CPSA were also to seek advice from the CSSO and, as such, it would entirely inappropriate for the CPSA to seek independent legal advice from the CSSO.

The legal fees incurred by the CPSA this year and the past three years are provided below:-

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

80. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 113 of 7 November 2013, if the internal non-statutory appeal process detailed also applies to the work of the Commission for Public Service Appointments, CPSA, in the Ombudsman's office; if not, the mechanisms in place for questioning a decision of the CPSA; his views on whether or not the process is transparent and accountable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48706/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) is an independent body established under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 whose functions include establishing standards for the recruitment and selection of persons for positions in the Civil Service and other public service bodies. The CPSA is obliged to report to the Houses of the Oireachtas annually on the performance of its functions.

While the secretariat of the CPSA is accommodated within the Office of the Ombudsman, it is a separate legal entity and as such is not subject to the same appeals process as that Office.

Section 13 of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 Act requires the CPSA to set out appropriate appeal procedures to allow it to consider and decide issues in relation to the manner in which certain public bodies manage their appointment processes. In this regard the CPSA has published review procedures to address candidates' requests for review of complaints in relation to appointment processes. These appeal procedures, based on the principles of openness and transparency, are set out in the Commission's Codes of Practice for appointment to positions under its remit and can be viewed on the Commission's web site (see ).

In accordance with the review procedures under the Codes candidates who are unhappy with the outcome of a review by an Office Holder may appeal the decision to the Commission for consideration. While the Codes of Practice provide that decisions of the CPSA are final, in the event that a complainant disputes the factual basis for that decision, the CPSA may review its original findings.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

81. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the role of his Department in the 2012 administrative officer competition advertised by the Public Appointments Service, PAS; the number of persons appointed by specialism and to which Departments; if he will provide a further breakdown showing the number of existing civil servants who were successfully appointed out of this competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48707/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under sections 57 and 58 of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, my Department has responsibility for policy relating to recruitment and promotion in the Civil Service. As part of this remit, my Department develops policy on resourcing across the Civil Service.

In late 2011, in response to information beginning to emerge from the broader workforce planning exercise, it was recognised that there were skills gaps in a number of areas across the Civil Service. In response to this identified need, it was decided to hold a recruitment competition at the grade of Administrative Officer - the primary graduate recruitment grade to the Civil Service. The competition focused on the areas of Economics, Banking and Finance, Human Resources, Taxation, Accounting and Law. The Public Appointments Service (PAS), the main recruitment body for the Civil Service, was the agency with responsibility for running the competition.

PAS has provided the following details on the numbers appointed from the competition.

PAS has confirmed that 17 of the 95 appointed were existing civil servants.