Commission for Public Service Appointments

Not to be confused with Public Appointments Service.

The Commission for Public Service Appointments (Irish: Coimisiúin um Cheapacháin Seirbhíse Poiblí) is an independent Irish statutory body which sets standards for recruitment in the public service. The Commission's importance is underlined by its composition of very senior statutory ex-officio members. However paradoxically the top-heavy composition of its membership, its lack of own staff and its minimal activity as demonstrated by its annual reports shows that it has not fulfilled its purpose. The Commission is not to be confused with the Public Appointments Service (Irish: An tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí).

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. 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.

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.

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.

Investigations

The Commission may authorize investigations with wide powers including the right of entry on premises and the right to inspect documents.

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.

Annual Reports

The Commission's Annual Reports are submitted to each House of the Oireachtas and published on its official web-site. 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. Currently these are:

• the Chairman of Dáil Éireann (An Ceann Comhairle), currently Seán Barrett TD
• the Secretary General to the Government of Ireland (Irish: Rialtas na hÉireann), currently Martin Fraser
• the Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Irish: An Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe), currently Robert Watt. (As a result of legislation the Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure 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 (Irish: Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin in Oifigí Poiblí), currently Mr Justice Daniel O'Keeffe.
• the Ombudsman (Irish: An 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. This was for cost-cutting purposes. As a result, the Commission depends on the staff of the Ombudsman which is clearly unsatisfactory for a major oversight body.

External links

• Official website
• Ceann Comhairle’s Website
• Department of the Taoiseach
• Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
• Standards in Public Office Commission
• Office of the Ombudsman