Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 2

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Tony Killeen

Question:

242 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Finance when the decision was made not to allow serving officers in the Revenue mobile service enforcement division to apply for the 1998 competition; and when this policy was conveyed to the staff in question. [22275/00]

Tony Killeen

Question:

243 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Finance the way in which staff in the Revenue mobile service were informed of the decision to exclude them from the 1998 competition advertised in Circular E5490; and when the staff were so informed. [22284/00]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the 1998 competition to which the Deputy refers was a once-off arrangement, held in the context of a particular difficulty which was being experienced in filling vacancies in various operational enforcement units of the Customs enforcement division in specified geographical locations. The Customs enforcement division is comprised of the Customs national drugs team, the Customs and Excise investigation bureau and the Revenue mobile service.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that it was decided exceptionally not to allow serving officers in the enforcement units, including the Revenue mobile service, to take part in the 1998 competition. The view taken by Revenue was that to allow such officers to participate would simply have recycled the vacancies between the various operational units in the same division and would not have been an effective use of resources. This decision was taken shortly after the issue of Circular E.5490 in August 1998, but before applications were considered. Serving officers who had applied were informed of this decision in writing at that time.

In summary, the 1998 competition was an interim situation to meet a particular difficulty. Revised arrangements were subsequently put in place for the next competition, advertised in December 1999. All general service staff in Revenue were invited to compete, including staff in the Revenue mobile service.