Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
710. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps her Department intend to take to ensure semi-State bodies and other organisations and bodies under the remit of her Department advertise vacant positions through the Public Appointments Service and publicjobs.ie that is in a clear and transparent manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39256/13]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
The Citizen’s Information Board and the Pensions Board advertise approved posts within their Employment Control Framework, which they are unable to fill through redeployment, on publicjobs.ie.
The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman staff are civil servants and as such must be appointed by the Public Appointments Service.
Citizens Information Board
Appointments to the Citizens Information Board (CIB) are made in accordance with legislative provisions contained in the Comhairle Act 2000, and the Citizens Information Act 2007.
The CIB operates in accordance with the Revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. I have made three appointments to the CIB since coming into office. One of these was made following a public request for expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced individuals. Advertisement was by way of the Department’s website on www.welfare.ie. Interested parties registered their interest through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) website; www.publicjobs.ie. The other two appointments did not require public advertisement as one was the Department’s representative to the Board and the other was the CIB’s staff representative to the Board.
There are currently two vacancies on the Citizens Information Board. A public request for expressions of interest resulted in 76 applications being received through the Public Appointments Service (PAS). Appointments will be made in accordance with the legislation on completion of the selection process.
Pensions Board
Following from the Critical Review of the Pensions Board under the Public Service Reform Plan, the governance structure of the Pensions Board is in the process of changing to form two bodies:
- the Pensions Authority, a three person body which will have oversight of the Pensions Board
- A separate unpaid Pensions Council, with a majority of members representing consumer interests, which will advise the Minister on pensions policy.
Under existing provision in the Pensions Act, the positions of Chairperson and Members are filled by Ministerial appointment and this will continue to apply to the new structures. It is expected that vacancies for the Pensions Council will be advertised on the PAS in the coming months and that this will be done in a clear and transparent manner.
Social Welfare Tribunal
The revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies does not apply to the Social Welfare Tribunal due to its structure and purpose.
