Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether all senior appointments to taxpayer-funded positions in the public service under the remit of his Department, including appointment to State boards, should be publicly advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3198/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The terms of appointment of the Chief Executive/Director/Registrar of agencies for which I am responsible are usually governed by the legislation establishing the body. The terms of the contract for these positions are subject to the approval of my Department, with the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. New posts must be advertised through the Public Appointments Service, except in exceptional circumstances (e.g. where a short term extension is given to an existing contract, in order to allow for the appointment of a new person to the job). Agencies must obtain approval for the filling of all posts, either replacement or new and they must also advertise the posts through the Public Appointments Service, unless approval is obtained to the contrary. This approval would be given, for example, if there were staff in another agency, who could be redeployed or seconded to those positions.

In line with Government Decision S180/20/10/1424 of 2011, relating to the advertising for expressions of interest in vacancies on State Boards, my Department, in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service, currently advertises for board vacancies as they arise, where I, as Minister for Health, have nominating rights. Appointments may not necessarily be from the applications received through the advertising process, which is also in line with the Government Decisions.