John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 29 November 2017, the process by which external members of TLAC are appointed; the qualifications and skill sets sought relative to external members; the level of professional human resources qualifications of each member; the rationale behind the decision to have two ex officio members; the skillsets required by the two Secretaries General appointed; the process by which they are selected and appointed; the attendance record of each member; the number of occasions when a split decision occurred in terms of an appointment; the way in which such a decision is dealt with; the number of persons appointed to vacancies that had no connection with the civil or public service out of the 615 appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52475/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) operates in an independent manner and strictly on the basis of open competition and merit. TLAC is responsible for determining its own procedures and remit, subject to Government decisions as appropriate. All TLAC interviews are conducted by sub-panels of the Top Level Appointments Committee each comprising two Secretaries General, two external members and chaired by the TLAC Chairperson.

The process for the appointment of internal and external members to TLAC is undertaken by the Chair of TLAC and the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, with input from the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach.

The criteria for selection of external and internal TLAC members includes experience in HR; Senior Management leadership experience; Public Service management experience; functional experience in Strategy, Operations, HR, Finance, IT. Legal; Corporate Services; or other relevant senior functional experience.

All final interviews are conducted by sub-panels of the Committee, each comprising two civil service and three external members and chaired by an external member.  There is adequate rotation among the members in the composition of boards.

Since early 2007 when the policy for open competitions for Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary and equivalent posts was first introduced, circa thirty six people were appointed from outside the civil service.