Vol. 460 No. 3
110 Mr. McCreevy asked the Minister for Finance the reason many professional grades in the Civil Service are debarred from competing for senior positions; his views on whether such a policy is acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19308/96]
I take it that the Deputy is referring to access by professional grades to promotion posts not within their traditional structure and, in particular, to promotion posts which fall to be filled under the terms of the Scheme for Interdepartmental Promotion to posts at Principal level. As the Deputy may be aware, principles governing promotion in the Civil Service are a matter which is discussable under the terms of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme. While I favour the removal of barriers to promotions, under existing agreed arrangements, professional grades do not, in general, have access to promotion posts not within their traditional structure. Similarly, general service grades do not have access to promotion posts in the professional structure. The existing arrangements for promotion to Principal level posts have been agreed with the staff side under an agreed scheme which clearly defines the posts which fall to be filled under the terms of the scheme and the grades eligible to compete for posts at Principal level. Certain professional grades do not have access to this scheme. Some years ago my Department made proposals which would have effected significant changes in this regard but it was not possible to secure the agreement of the relevant staff interests to those proposals.
I should note, however, that eligibility for the most senior civil service posts — those filled through the Top Levels Appointments Committee — is open to all civil servants within a certain salary band regardless of whether they belong to the general service or the professional structure.
I am positively disposed to the removal of traditional promotion barriers. This matter has been reviewed in the overall context of proposals for reform of the Civil Service by the co-ordinating Group of Secretaries. These proposals will be considered by Government shortly. In that context I would hope that progress can be made on this issue. The Deputy will no doubt appreciate that any proposed changes will be a matter for discussion with staff interests generally.
