Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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419. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when she plans to appoint a Secretary General to her Department; the process that has been followed to select the new Secretary General; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23000/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Appointments to the position of Secretary General are a function of government, following an independent recruitment process undertaken by the Top Level Appointments Commission (TLAC) through the Public Appointments Service (PAS).As such, my Department has no involvement in the recruitment process.

Last year an open international recruitment competition for the post of Secretary General was independently run by the PAS on behalf of TLAC. However the PAS process did not lead to any candidate being recommended for the position at that time.

The position of Secretary General has been filled since October last on an acting basis by Mr. Noel Waters. Mr. Waters fulfils all the duties of the post.

In the interim, substantial progress has been made in the implementation of reforms on foot of the Toland Review. Implementation of a change programme has been the top priority for the Department and this has resulted in a comprehensive range of reforms and developments including establishment of a new Management Board structure and management processes in the Department; implementation of new service level agreements and new structures to ensure better oversight and coordination of all agencies under the Department’s auspices; development of new HR and training policies; introduction of new audit and risk management procedures; establishment of a new Corporate Secretariat and appointment of a Head of Communications; establishment and selection of the new post of Deputy Secretary General; continuing work on a major upgrade of the Department ICT systems.

A broader programme of reform and investment has been delivered by the Department of Justice & Equality over the past year including: recruitment of Garda Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners has been opened up; publication of legislation to establish an independent Policing Authority; enactment of legislation to strengthen GSOC; commencement of work by the new Court of Appeals; enactment of the Child & Family Relationship Act has been enacted, the biggest reform in family law in the history of the State; progression of the landmark Legal Service Regulation Bill which completed second stage in the Senate last week; reopening of Garda College to new recruits, sanction for the recruitment of 550 new Gardaí and continued investment in new Garda vehicles.

I have previously indicated that I felt that the circumstances facing the Justice sector at the time proved to be a factor in the position not being filled

With the substantial reform of the Department of Justice & Equality now becoming embedded, I will consider this matter again in due course.