Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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994. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of recruitment for the role of special rapporteur on child protection; when the role will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1562/23]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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995. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the role of special rapporteur on child protection has been filled on an interim basis since the expiry of the term of the previous special rapporteur in July 2022 and until the new special rapporteur is in situ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1563/23]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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996. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase the stipend associated with the position of special rapporteur on child protection, as recommended in the 2022 Annual Report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1564/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 994 to 996, inclusive, together.

The term of office of the outgoing Special Rapporteur on Child Protection concluded in July 2022.

I informed my Cabinet colleagues in February 2022 that it was my intention to select the nominee for the Special Rapporteur position for the next three-year term by way of a Public Appointments Service (PAS) open competition. As this is a Government appointed position, the post was not filled on an interim basis in order to allow the PAS competition to proceed.

A stipend of €25,000 per annum is payable in respect of the position of Special Rapporteur and this has remained unchanged. My officials carried out a review of the level of the stipend, including engagement with Department of Public Expenditure with respect to consideration of similar fees, and it was concluded that the PAS competition should proceed with the stipend maintained at the current rate.

The PAS open competition to select the nominee was advertised in September 2022. Final interviews took place in late November 2022. Maintaining the stipend at the current rate does not appear to have discouraged applicants. PAS wrote to the Secretary General of my Department earlier in January 2023 to advise him on the progress with respect to the process and confirming a candidate who is provisionally recommended for the role.

This recommendation is subject to PAS being satisfied as to the suitability of the preferred candidate following completion of necessary checks. It is anticipated that this process may take a couple of weeks. When this has been completed, PAS will write to the Secretary General to confirm the candidate’s suitability for appointment. Once this final confirmation is received, I will bring the name of the nominee for the role of Special Rapporteur on Child Protection to Government for approval at the earliest opportunity.