Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 February 2004
274 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied) was notified by the Civil Service Commission of their success having attended for interview for a position with the Revenue Commissioners, to have written confirmation subsequently withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2825/04]
View answerThe candidate in question competed in an interview for the position of clerical officer on 21 October 2003. The interview was for clerical officer positions within the Civil Service. This person failed to reach the qualifying standard.
However, on 5 November 2003 the candidate was incorrectly advised by letter that the required standard had been reached at the interview and that the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners would be in touch again when a vacancy arose. On 7 November 2003, a second letter was issued conveying the correct result.
The error came to light when the candidate contacted the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners to discuss the fact that two conflicting items of correspondence regarding the interview had been received.
The manager of the clerical recruitment unit in the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners spoke to the candidate to clarify the position. An apology was given and an offer was made to meet with the candidate to discuss the matter, which the candidate declined.
The Civil Service Commissioners under the Civil Service Commissioners Act 1956 cannot appoint a person unless that person reaches the qualifying standard in a competition run by them for a post in the Civil Service. In this case, as the candidate in question did not meet the qualifying standard, the commissioners could not make an offer of appointment.
The commissioners regret the unfortunate error and any embarrassment that may have occurred and they will continue to monitor the outcome of competition procedures on an ongoing basis.
