asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the limitation to certain grades of entitlement to promotion through confined competitions in the Civil Service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Civil Service Promotions.
24.
Eligibility for promotion by confined competition in the Civil Service is determined through the conciliation and arbitration machinery by reference to the qualifications and service deemed necessary for the filling of posts and to the practical problems which arise in providing methods by which staff may advance to superior posts.
Does the Minister not think it is very undesirable and anti-social that a person should be deprived, by virtue of the particular grade in which he happens to have entered the Civil Service, the opportunity of applying for other posts for which he may be qualified? Would he agree to look into this and to review the position under which this class-conscious system remains so that, for example, a messenger, no matter how well qualified he may be, because of his previous experience before entering the public service, for a higher post, can apply for no post through confined competitions other than that of paperkeeper? Would he not agree that this is completely contrary to the social principles on which this State was founded and would he agree to look into the matter?
I think there is another side to the story. If this were to be extended one could very well end up on the basis that there would be only confined competitions which I am sure the Deputy would agree is not the situation we want——
Why?
——and if it is not, then one has to draw the line as to where the confined competitions apply. As I have indicated, there are practical difficulties about extending this. I have also indicated that the operation of such confined competitions is a matter which is fixed through conciliation and arbitration machinery. The staff are very concerned about the extent to which it operates and any extension would be a matter for discussion and agreement with the staff.
Would the Minister not agree that a messenger, for example, in the public service once he is over a certain low age, is not eligible to apply for jobs through open competition? The Minister's rules make it impossible for him to apply for any job other than paperkeeper through confined competition and, therefore, all promotional outlets are barred by this anti-social policy.
The age limit to which the Deputy refers applies to everybody, not merely to people in the Civil Service.
Why should there be an age limit for promotion into a higher office——
I am calling Question No. 25. Would Deputies co-operate with the Chair in an effort to get the Questions answered?
The Deputy has not grasped the point I am making, namely, if there is an age limit for a particular position it will apply to all applicants. The Deputy is suggesting that people within the Civil Service at any grade should be entitled to apply by confined competition for other posts, irrespective of their age. This I could not accept.
I am talking about promotion to higher grades and, as there is no possibility of applying for higher grades through open competition once a certain age is reached, such people are limited and cannot apply for any post other than the grade immediately above them.
The Deputy is suggesting they should be entitled to apply for any post above them, irrespective of age and by confined competition because they are in the Civil Service.
Promotion should not be limited on class grounds.
I am calling Question No. 25.