Commission for Public Service Appointments
The Commission for Public Service Appointments (Template:Lang-ga) is an independent Irish statutory body which sets standards for recruitment in the public service.[1]
The Commission is not to be confused with the Public Appointments Service.[2]
Activities
The commission's main activities are as follows:
- issuing codes of practice
- carrying out audits of recruitment and selection
- investigating complaints.
Codes of practice
The commission issues codes of practice concerning recruitment and selection.[3] There are currently five codes of practice, relating to appointments in the Civil Service and Public Service, as well as codes to deal with specific situations such as appointment of persons with disabilities, or emergency short-term appointments in the health public sector.[4]
Recruitment and selection audits
The commission carries out audits of recruitment and selection in the public sector, all of which are published. Sometimes these include recommendations.[5]
Complaints
The commission also investigates complaints or formal statutory requests for review under the codes in relation to specific appointments. However it may not quash or alter a recruitment decision.[6]
Investigations
The commission may authorize investigations with wide powers including the right of entry on premises and the right to inspect documents.[7]
Approved recruitment agencies
In a new initiative, the commission intends to establish a list of approved recruitment agencies from the private sector which may be used for public service recruitment.[8]
Annual reports
The commission's annual reports are submitted to each House of the Oireachtas and published on its official website. The commission is supported by a small staff.
Members of the commission
The Commission for Public Service Appointments consists of five ex-officio members, referred to as commissioners.[9] Currently these are:[10]
- the chairman of Dáil Éireann, the Ceann Comhairle, currently Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD
- the Secretary General to the Government of Ireland, currently Martin Fraser
- the Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, currently Robert Watt (as a result of legislation[11][12] the Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform replaced the Secretary General, Public Service Management and Development, Department of Finance, as ex-officio member of the commission).
- the chairperson of the Standards in Public Office Commission, currently Mr Justice Daniel O'Keeffe.
- the Ombudsman, currently Peter Tyndall
Office and staff
In 2012 the Office of the Commission was amalgamated with the Office of the Ombudsman for administration and accounting purposes.[13] This was for cost-cutting purposes.[citation needed] As a result, the commission depends on the staff of the ombudsman.
References
- ^ "Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004" (PDF). Dublin: Stationery Office. 2004. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Public Appointments Service". www.publicjobs.ie. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- ^ "Commission for Public Service Appointments". Commission for Public Service Appointments. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Codes of Practice". Commission for Public Service Appointments. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- ^ "Audits". Commission for Public Service Appointments. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- ^ "Complaints". Commission for Public Service Appointments. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- ^ "Section 18, Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004" (PDF). Dublin: Stationery Office. 2004. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "Approved Recruitment Agencies". Commission for Public Service Appointments. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- ^ "Section 12, Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004" (PDF). Dublin: Stationery Office. 2004. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Members of the Commission". Commission for Public Service Appointments. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011" (PDF). Dublin: Stationery Office. 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011)". Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Annual Report 2012, Office of the Ombudsman". Office of the Ombudsman. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.