John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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121. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the names of persons that serve on the high level appointments commission for the Civil Service; the length of time that each one has served on the commission; the number of appointments made since its inception; his plans for reform of this commission; his further plans to replace members of the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50891/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, open publicly advertised competition is a key principle of senior level appointments to posts across the public service reflecting the Government's commitment to ensure that such posts, which are central to the effective performance of our system of public administration, are filled by high-calibre candidates. 

In my area of direct responsibility, the civil service, recruitment in relation to senior level appointments above Principal Officer is undertaken by the Top Level Appointments Committee, (TLAC). TLAC holds competitions for and advises, as appropriate, Ministers and/or the Government  on appointments to civil service posts at Secretary General and Assistant Secretary and equivalent levels. 

The policy on open competitions for Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary and equivalent posts has been in place since 2007 and for Secretary General and equivalent posts since 2012. 

TLAC operates under the Code of Practice issued by the Commission for Public Service Appointments in accordance with the principles of merit, consistency, accountability, probity, best practice and professional confidentiality.

TLAC operates in an independent manner and strictly on the basis of open competition and merit and is responsible for determining its own procedures and remit, subject to Government decisions as appropriate.

In 2011 the Government agreed to a restructuring of TLAC so that the membership should comprise:

- Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

- Secretary General to the Government.

- Two other Secretaries General appointed for three year terms.

- Five members from outside the civil service appointed for three year terms, one of whom would be the chairperson.

In July 2015 the Government approved the further expansion to seven external members (including the Chairperson) and six internal members.

The current members of TLAC are:

- Mr Robert Watt, Secretary General, D/Public Expenditure & Reform - ex-officio member since - April 2011.

- Mr Martin Fraser, Secretary General, D/Taoiseach – ex-officio member since - July 2011.

- Mr Maurice Quinn, Secretary General, D/Defence – Internal TLAC Member since - 01 September 2015 – 3 yr term due to end - 01 September 2018.

- Mr Jim Breslin, Secretary General, D/Health – Internal TLAC Member since - 01 September 2015 – 3yr term due to end - 01 September 2018.

- Ms Brid Horan, Non-Executive Director – External TLAC Members since - 01 September 2015 – 3yr term due to end - 01 September 2018.

- Mr Charles Dolan, Director, Consulting Ltd – External TLAC Member since -  01 September 2015 – 3yr term due to end - 01 September 2018.

- Mr Tony Keohane, Former Chairman, Tesco Ltd – External TLAC Member since -  01 September 2015 – 3yr term due to end - 01 September 2018.

- Ms Jane Williams, Managing Partner/Sia Partners – Chairwoman of TLAC since - 08 November 2016 – 3yr term due to end - 08 November 2019.  Previous to being appointed Chairwoman, was an External TLAC Member since -  5 Nov 2013.

- Ms Bride Rosney, Former special advisor to President Mary Robinson – External TLAC Member since - 15 November 2016 – 3yr term due to end - 15 November 2019.

- Mr Phillip Matthews, Qualified Executive and Team Coach and former President/CEO and Board Member, National College of Ireland – External TLAC Member since -  15 November 2016 – 3yr term due to end - 15 November 2019.

- Mr Conor Brady, Former Editor, Irish Times and former Member of GSOC – External TLAC Member since - 15 November 2016 – 3yr term due to end - 15 November 2019.

- Mr Mark Griffin, Secretary General, D/Communications, Climate Action & Environment – Internal TLAC Member since - 06 December 2016 – 3yr term due to end - 06 December 2019.

- Dr Orlaigh Quinn, Secretary General, D/Business, Enterprise & Innovation – Internal TLAC Member since - 01 August 2017  - 3yr term due to end - 01 August 2020.

Since TLAC’s inception in 1984, in the region of 615 appointments have been made.