Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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407. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason appointments to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal have not been made; when he expects appointments to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34263/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The International Protection Act 2015, provides for transitional measures for existing Tribunal Members from the date of establishment of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT), Section 71(7) refers. I am information by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that there are currently 21 members of the IPAT in situ.

As provided for under Section 62(4) of the International Protection Act 2015, the appointment by the Minister of a Member of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) shall be made after the Public Appointments Service has selected them for appointment to the position, following the holding of a competition under section 47 of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. A competition for Part Time Members of the Tribunal was held by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) in March 2017, and my Department was notified in June of the outcome of the competition by PAS to enable INIS to move to engage with the successful applicants for training and recruitment. Groups from this competition are now being invited on a phased basis to indicate their preference for required training dates. INIS has written to the first batch of candidates in this regard and the first training session will take place later this week. Further sessions for new Members have been scheduled for September, and later in 2017. Officials in my Department will be writing to the next group of candidates in due course with arrangements for training and appointments.

It is intended to hold the competitions for the three Full-Time Members of the Tribunal and for the Chairperson of the Tribunal together, following a vacancy in the Chairperson position since March 2017. In the interim, the position of Chairperson is being filled by one of the two Deputy Chairpersons of the Tribunal, as provided for under Section 62(8) of the International Protection Act 2015.