Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Questions (79)

Finian McGrath

Question:

79. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Commission for Public Service Appointments avails of the services of a private firm of solicitors rather than using the expertise of the Chief State Solicitor's office, CSSO; if he will provide the reason for this; if he will provide details of the amount of legal fees incurred by the CPSA this year and for each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48705/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) is responsible for overseeing the conduct of appointment processes to a wide range of positions in the Civil and Public Service. In carrying out its independent statutory functions, the CPSA must, on occasions, seek independent legal advice on issues that come to light in the course of its examination of appointment processes. Given that the Civil Service Departments and Offices rely on the CSSO for their own legal advice, there is a strong risk of a conflict of interest arising if the CPSA were also to seek advice from the CSSO and, as such, it would entirely inappropriate for the CPSA to seek independent legal advice from the CSSO.

The legal fees incurred by the CPSA this year and the past three years are as follows:

Year	Fees
2010	€26,000
2011	€22,000
2012	€1,000
2013	Nil