Written Answers Nos. 40-49
42. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the conversations he has had with the British Government in respect of the upcoming Orange Order marching season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8941/14]
View answerI am in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP about the overall situation in Northern Ireland including contentious marches and overall parades issue. In recent months, I met with all of the party leaders in the Executive and with the British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP as well as with the Independent Chair of the Panel of Parties, Dr Richard Haass, to discuss ways forward. I have also visited the interface areas in Ardoyne, Carrick Hill and Short Strand and was briefed by the Apprentice Boys and the PSNI in Derry about their assessment of the situation.
My officials in the British Irish Joint Secretariat in Belfast monitor the situation on the ground closely with their British colleagues, review legislative and judicial development and keep me advised. The legislative framework for parading is a key area of focus for my Department. Accordingly, we have strongly supported the work of the Parades Commission and the PSNI in maintaining the rule of law in Northern Ireland. The Political Parties in the Northern Ireland Executive are currently discussing the Proposals, including those on Parades. They recognise the wide variety of other rights potentially affected by parades and other events and call for a new consensus based on rights, responsibilities, and relationships. Throughout the Talks, I have made clear the Government’s view to all participants and stakeholders that there is now a unique opportunity to make further progress towards advancing reconciliation and the creation of a truly reconciled and prosperous society in Northern Ireland. That remains the Government’s view and we will continue our engagement with the Northern Ireland Political Parties and the British Government to that end.
43. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland on recent developments in Northern Ireland. [8942/14]
View answerI discussed the current political situation in Northern Ireland with the First Minister and deputy First Minister when I met with them in Dublin on 10 January 2014. I have spoken to each of them individually on a number of occasions since, most recently last week. During my conversations with the First Minister and with the deputy First Minister, I stated the Government’s view that we wish to see the Northern Ireland parties reach agreement on the compromise proposals which emerged from the Haass process as soon as possible and without further delay. This view is shared by the British Government. Throughout the Talks, I have made clear the Government’s view to all participants and stakeholders that there is now a unique opportunity to make further progress towards advancing reconciliation and the creation of a truly reconciled and prosperous society in Northern Ireland. That remains the Government’s view and we will continue our engagement with the Northern Ireland Political Parties and the British Government to that end.
44. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met the Finucane family in recent months. [8945/14]
View answerI met with Geraldine Finucane and other members of the Finucane family, together with their legal representatives, on 17 October 2011. I have since spoken and met with her informally, including since the publication of the da Silva Report in December 2012, and have indicated my ongoing availability to her and to the Finucane family. Officials from my Department are in ongoing contact with members of the Finucane family.
Most recently, I was represented by the Irish Joint Secretary to the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat at a lecture in Queen’s University, Belfast on 13 February 2014 to mark the twenty fifth anniversary of Pat Finucane’s death.
Both Governments accepted at Weston Park that certain cases from the past remained a source of grave public concern, particularly those giving rise to serious allegations of collusion by the security forces in each of our jurisdictions. Both Governments therefore committed to undertake a thorough investigation of allegations of collusion in the cases of the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan, Pat Finucane, Lord Justice and Lady Gibson, Robert Hamill, Rosemary Nelson and Billy Wright. In line with Judge Cory’s subsequent recommendations, a Tribunal of Inquiry into the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan was established by the Houses of the Oireachtas in 2005.
With the publication of the Smithwick Report last December, the Government has fulfilled the commitments we entered into at Weston Park, specifically in this jurisdiction to carry out an inquiry into the murders of Chief Superintendent Breen and Superintendent Buchanan. In line with this approach, we continue to call on the British Government for an independent public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane. This is an approach which has cross-party support in the Houses of the Oireachtas.
45. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are any Irish embassies currently without an ambassador; and his plans to fill these posts or whether other arrangements will be made. [9902/14]
View answerThere is one vacancy at Ambassador level, in our embassy in Kampala, Uganda. It is intended that this position will be filled shortly.
46. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will indicate, in tabular form, the total expenditure by his Department on external consultancy advice services, including legal services, in 2011, 2012 and 2013; if this spend is in line with the overall value for money objective of his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10013/14]
View answerMy Department is responsible for two Votes, Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). My Department engages a range of external service providers in a number of areas where the required skills are not available in-house and it is more cost-effective to source them externally. I have set out in the following tables details of payments to providers of external advisory services and the annual totals from 2011 to the end of 2013 in respect of Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and of Vote 27 (International Cooperation).
These services are procured by competitive tender in accordance with EU and national rules and I am satisfied that this spend is in line with the overall value for money objective of my Department’s remit, particularly in relation to the external services engaged for the independent monitoring and evaluation of Ireland’s programme of overseas development assistance, Irish Aid. Given the overall scale, range and diversity of the Irish Aid programme, as well as the firm commitment to the highest quality, accountability and evaluation, it is necessary to complement the in-house capacity with specialised skills and advice. The level of expenditure on consultancy services is constantly monitored to ensure that it does not exceed the level required for the proper management, oversight, monitoring, evaluation and audit of the aid programme.
With regard to legal services, my Department generally seeks advice on domestic legal matters from the Office of the Attorney General and/or the Chief State Solicitor’s Office. Depending on the subject-matter, domestic litigation is dealt with on my Department’s behalf by the Attorney General’s Office, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency which engage lawyers to act for the Department where necessary and pay their fees. My Department has a Legal Division, which deals with matters of public international law, human rights law, and European Union law and other relevant legal issues. The Division also acts as agent for the Government before certain international courts and tribunals, such as the European Court of Human Rights. In this regard, it works closely with the Office of the Attorney General, which pays the fees of external lawyers. The Department’s Missions abroad engage local legal advisers from time to time to deal with a range of miscellaneous matters. At HQ, the Department has not engaged external private sector legal advice for any of the years 2011 to 2014 to date.
|
Vote 28: Payments to External Advisory Service Providers in 2013 |
Value € |
Purpose of Contract |
|
ISAS LTD |
205,949 |
High-level ICT Security services |
|
PT CONSULTING |
105,782 |
Software consultancy service in providing online accreditation system for the EU Presidency (on behalf of all Departments) |
|
RED DOG DESIGN |
61,622 |
Graphic Design Services |
|
Total Vote 28 2013 |
373,353 |
Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade)
|
Vote 28: Payments to External Advisory Service Providers in 2012 |
Value € |
Purpose of Contract |
|
ISAS |
371,687 |
High-level ICT Security services. |
|
RED DOG DESIGN |
256,249 |
Graphic Design Services (including for EU Presidency requirements on behalf of all Departments) |
|
PT CONSULTING |
145,512 |
Development and operation of online delegate and press accreditation system for EU Presidency (on behalf of all Departments) |
|
Total Vote 28 2012 |
773,448 |
|
Vote 28: Payments to External Advisory Service Providers in 2011 |
Value € |
Purpose of Contract |
|
ISAS Ltd |
174,768 |
High-level ICT Security Services |
|
RITS Ltd |
160,554 |
High-level ICT Security Services |
|
Red Dog Design |
109,827 |
Graphic Design Services |
|
Total Vote 28 2011 |
445,149 |
Vote 27 (International Cooperation)
|
Vote 27: Payments to External Advisory Service Providers in 2013 |
Value |
Purpose of Contract |
|
Heather Nesbitt |
1,652 |
Training in the Analysis of Audit Accounts and other Financial Accounts of NGO for Development Education and Civil Society Section |
|
Una Murray |
37,500 |
Provision of Technical SupportIrish Aid - International Labour Organisation Partnership – 2013 to 2015 |
|
Bronagh Hynes & Karen McMinn Consultants |
14,940 |
Progress Report on the implementation of Ireland's National Action Plan on UNSCR (United Nations Security Council Resolution) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security |
|
Mary Jennings |
15,500 |
Review of HRD (Human Rights and Democratisation) Scheme Irish Aid Palestine |
|
Rothwell Performance Consulting |
11,400 |
Evaluation of the UNCTAD Port Training Programme English-Speaking Network,March 2013 |
|
Kevin Moore |
20,000 |
Monitor Irish Aid support Private Sector Infrastructure Group |
|
Emma Warwick |
40,500 |
Technical Services for the Emergency & Recovery Section in Humanitarian Response and Fragile States |
|
Anne Marie Cunningham |
40,500 |
Technical Services for the Emergency & Recovery Section in Linking Relief, Recovery and Development |
|
DHR Communications |
119,245 |
Africa Day |
|
Sarah Hunt |
36,000 |
Technical Services for the Policy Planning and Effectiveness Section Governance and Financing for Development |
|
ASTEC Consultants Ltd |
33,000 |
Financial Policies and Procedures ReviewVote 27 – Development Cooperation Division |
|
Chuck Lathrop |
2,992 |
World wise Alliance of Cities Against Poverty |
|
Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors |
17,000 |
External Validation of Risk-Based Audit Planning Exercise |
|
Cathy Doran |
6,375 |
Framework Agreement - Support to the Civil Society Funding 2013 Project Proposal Call |
|
Peter McEvoy |
7,800 |
Framework Agreement - Support to the Civil Society Funding 2013 Project Proposal Call |
|
Una Murray |
37,500 |
External support for a Review of Irish Aid support to Mama Cash and Intern-Parliamentary Union |
|
Peter McEvoy |
15,200 |
Technical Consultant to the Development Education Unit |
|
Amy Rose mc Govern |
4,400 |
Facilitate the Health Sector Public Finance Management Workshop |
|
Kevin Moore |
4,000 |
Prepare and present Ireland’s contribution to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Workshop |
|
Gareth Williams |
20,000 |
Governance, Financial & Programme Review of Camara Education |
|
John Geraghty |
7,500 |
Review of University College Cork's Programme of Technical Support Internships for Food Security |
|
Vicky Dillon |
22,500 |
Provision of Specialist Services to Support Ireland’s Co-facilitation of the September 2013 UN Special Event on the MDGs and the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals |
|
Garth Singleton |
6,150 |
Evaluation of the Irish Forum for Global Health |
|
Natural Research Institute |
14,583 |
Review of Irish Aid Support to Fair and Ethical Trade Initiatives |
|
Karen Brosnan |
15,500 |
Gender Equality Audit |
|
Hunter McGill |
7,500 |
Provision of External Expert Support to the 2014 DAC Peer Review of Ireland |
|
Garth Singleton |
20,000 |
Evaluation of Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland/College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa Collaboration Programme, 2013. |
|
Cathy Doran |
19,125 |
Framework Agreement - Support Appraisal of Programme Grant Annual Reports |
|
Niall O'Keeffe |
20,250 |
Framework Agreement - Support Appraisal of Programme Grant Annual Reports |
|
Mike Williams |
29,250 |
Framework Agreement - Support Appraisal of Programme Grant Annual Reports |
|
Walk Tall Consulting (Marie Therese Fanning) |
13,000 |
Provision of specialist input into the recruitment of Irish Aid funded UN Youth Volunteers for 2014 |
|
John Geraghty (Geraghty Consulting) |
45,125 |
Provision of Professional Services - External Agriculture Consultant |
|
IOD PARC |
56,100 |
Evaluation of the Irish Aid Programme in Sierra Leone 2011-2013 |
|
Mary Buckley |
4,500 |
Rapid Response Corps Interview Board 2013 |
|
Donal Bracken |
2,250 |
Rapid Response Corps Interview Board 2013 |
|
Niall Morris |
54,600 |
External Specialist Services for the Policy Planning and Effectiveness Section OECD Engagement and Coordination of DAC Peer Review 2014 |
|
Cathy Doran |
6,375 |
Support to the Project Cycle Management of the Civil Society Fund 2013 - 2015 |
|
Peter McEvoy |
7,800 |
Support to the Project Cycle Management of the Civil Society Fund 2013 - 2015 |
|
Niall O'Keeffe |
6,750 |
Support to the Project Cycle Management of the Civil Society Fund 2013 - 2015 |
|
Vicky Dillon |
5,000 |
Drafting Irelands Memorandum to the OECD/DAC |
|
Kimmage |
17,880 |
Irish Aid Election Observation Roster - Provision of Training in Elections |
|
Mamar Merzouk |
15,000 |
Emergency and Recovery Section - Humanitarian Expert Services |
|
Stephen O Dwyer |
4,400 |
Consultant Support for the development of a National Report under the EU Food & Nutrition Security Implementation Plan |
|
Mokoro |
58,740 |
Evaluation of the Irish Aid Programme in Timor Leste 2001-2013 |
|
Michael McManus |
4,800 |
Development of an Action Plan for the implementation of One World One Future |
|
Total V 27 2013 |
950,182 |
|
Vote 27: Payments to External Advisory Service Providers in 2012 |
Value € |
Purpose of Contract |
|
Mary Brady |
16,000 |
Assessing Capabilities and Mapping Progress in Environmental Mainstreaming |
|
DHR Communications |
27,030 |
Africa Day 2012 Coordination |
|
IOD PARC |
51,860 |
South Africa Country Programme Evaluation |
|
Bernie Crawford |
9,660 |
Professional Services for the Irish Aid Fellowship programme |
|
ITAD |
82,255 |
Evaluation of the Ethiopia Country strategy 2008-2011 |
|
Tony Taaffe |
9,750 |
Technical Assistance to Finance Unit in Irish Aid |
|
Cathy Roche |
6,300 |
Review of the Our World Awards 2005-2011 |
|
Deirdre Farrell |
17,480 |
Technical Consultant to the Development Education Unit |
|
Ruth O Doherty |
15,200 |
Technical Consultant to the Development Education Unit |
|
Mella Cusack |
14,250 |
Technical Consultant to the Development Education Unit |
|
Frontline Advisory (Pty) Ltd |
5,000 |
Training on Economic and Trade Development in Africa for Focal Point (S Africa) |
|
Mary Corbett |
4,750 |
Emergency Nutrition and Public Health Consultant to Support Monitoring of Medecins sans Frontiers in South Sudan |
|
Cathy Gaynor |
785 |
Technical Expertise-support the assessment and the approval of results frameworks as part of the CSF programme round |
|
Irish Council for International Students |
600,000 |
Provision of Specialist Support Services for the Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme 2012-2014 |
|
DHR |
79,500 |
Consultancy Support for the Simon Cumbers media Challenge 2012-2014 |
|
Mark Jerome |
9,250 |
Facilitation of Irish Aid Primary School Summer Workshops in the Volunteering and Information Centre |
|
Fred Tottenham |
1,500 |
Recruitment Expert - Rapid Response Corps Interview Board Member |
|
James Sanderson |
1,800 |
Recruitment Expert - Rapid Response Corps Interview Board Member |
|
Eunice Fields |
1,500 |
Recruitment Expert - Rapid Response Corps Interview Board Member |
|
Mokoro |
28,980 |
Senior Evaluation Specialist Lesotho 2012 - Framework Agreement |
|
Everywhere Consulting |
42,850 |
Feasibility Study on the establishment of a Humanitarian Hub at Shannon Airport |
|
Emma Warwick |
40,500 |
Technical Services in Emergency & Recovery Section in Humanitarian Response and Fragile States |
|
Fintan Farrelly |
6,000 |
External Support - Review of the Irish Aid Strategic Environmental Partnership Programme (SEPP) |
|
Mary Corbett |
42,000 |
External Support in Food and Nutrition Security |
|
ESRI |
269,332 |
Training in Socio -Economic Analysis and Applied Forecasting |
|
Adrienne Boyle |
15,200 |
Technical Consultant to the Development Education Unit |
|
Maxmedia |
73,600 |
Provision of Professional Copywriting Services |
|
Maxmedia |
3,800 |
Technical Input to the drafting of the Report on the Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid |
|
Kimmage Development Studies Centre |
286,984 |
Provision of Specialist Information and Guides Services in the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre |
|
Nicholas Freeland |
5,400 |
Technical Support Social Protection |
|
Rothwell Consulting |
19,200 |
Provision of specialist input into the recruitment of a panel of Irish Aid funded UNV interns for the 2013 programme |
|
Kevin Moore |
3,500 |
Specialist Technical Services - Private Sector Infrastructure Group Donor Meeting 8th to 11th October 2012 |
|
Mr. Máirtín O’Fainín |
5,000.00 |
Ireland’s future engagement in Lesotho |
|
Real Events |
75,600 |
Professional Services for the Our World Awards 2012 to 2013 |
|
Fitzpatrick Associates |
39,000 |
Evaluation Mentoring Support |
|
Heather Nesbitt |
3,600 |
Review of the oversight and management arrangements for Irish Aid support to the Development and Intercultural Education (DICE) Programme |
|
Tony Taaffe |
16,250 |
Technical Specialist Service for Finance Unit - Irish Aid |
|
Cathy Doran |
6,375 |
Support to the Project Cycle Management of the Civil Society Fund (Framework Agreement) |
|
Self Help Africa |
802,174 |
Professional Service and management of the World wise Global Schools 2012 to 2016 |
|
Mike Williams |
14,300 |
Misean Cara Review |
|
Peter McEvoy |
7,800 |
Consultancy Support- CIVIL SOCIETY |
|
Niall O'Keeffe |
6,850 |
Consultancy Support- CIVIL SOCIETY |
|
Design for Life |
9,250 |
Design and production of video relating to Human Rights and Hunger, Nutrition and Climate Justice |
|
Vicky Dillon |
40,000 |
Support the Presidency of the Council of the EU on the development of the post 2015 global development framework |
|
Total V 27 2012 |
2,817,416 |
|
Vote 27: Payments to External Advisory Service Providers in 2011 |
Value |
Purpose of Contract |
|
Stefanie Meredith |
7,125 |
Review of Irish Aid Support for Product Development Partnerships |
|
Samia Saad |
7,125 |
Review of Irish Aid Support for Product Development Partnerships |
|
Mary Brady |
30,000 |
Technical Support in Food Security |
|
Paud Murphy |
7,800 |
Development Education Reviews |
|
80:20:00 |
8,450 |
Development Education Reviews |
|
Eilis Murray |
5,850 |
Development Education Reviews |
|
ISOS |
31,010 |
Development Education Reviews |
|
Caroline Burke |
3,000 |
Coordination of Africa Day Events |
|
Pat Mc Mullin |
33,250 |
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Consultant |
|
John Geraghty |
7,500 |
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Consultant |
|
Bernard McLoughlin |
6,000 |
Review of the Irish Aid Centre |
|
ITAD |
3,060 |
Irish Aid Presentation of Joint DFID/IA Tanzanian Country Programme Evaluation Report |
|
Aisling Swaine |
20,000 |
Technical Support on Gender Equality |
|
Rachel Kavanagh |
2,800 |
To produce educational material for online teachers’ resources for the Our World Awards website for the Our World Irish Aid Awards, 2011-12 |
|
Cathy Roche |
3,000 |
Second Level Resource Pack - Final Edit and Proofing and Re-draft |
|
Mike Williams |
16,800 |
Evaluation of Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence |
|
CPW Consulting |
16,250 |
Consultancy to Develop a Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy |
|
Lauren Bari |
3,750 |
Technical Consultant in the Civil Society Section for the Civil Society Funding Round July 2011 |
|
SM Carthan Property Consultants |
24,810 |
Needs Assessment Study for Improvement in Education Provision in Karamoja Region |
|
Cathy Gaynor |
3,925 |
Technical Input from Facilitator in preparation of Programme Funding Proposals |
|
Pieternella Pieterse |
2,000 |
Technical Support with the Communication and Dissemination of the 2010 Annual Monitoring Report on Gender Equality to the Public |
|
NUI Maynooth |
2,000 |
Technical Support with the Communication and Dissemination of the 2010 Annual Monitoring Report on Gender Equality to the Public |
|
Mike Williams |
15,000 |
Review of Humanitarian Programme Plan for Irish Aid |
|
Marie Therese Fanning |
19,400 |
Provision of specialist input into the recruitment of a panel of Irish Aid funded UNV interns for the 2012 programme |
|
Humanitarian Policy Ltd |
19,250 |
Review of Security Policy & Practice among Irish Aid Humanitarian Partners |
|
Marcel Grogan |
22,500.00 |
Audit of the Award of Grants to NGO Partners in 2009 (MAPS II & Emergency Recovery Funding Schemed)-Christian Aid |
|
Fred Tottingham |
3,000 |
UNV Internship Interview Board |
|
DHR Communications |
45,006 |
Support Services for the Review of the White Paper |
|
Philip Regan |
3,900 |
Junior Professional Induction Training |
|
Rodney Rice |
2,700 |
Media Scoping Follow Up |
|
Fitzpatrick Associates |
60,000 |
Provision of Technical management Support to the Irish Development Experience Sharing (IDEAS) Programme Vietnam |
|
IOD PARC |
2,950 |
Dissemination of MAPS II Evaluation Findings |
|
Valid International |
33,992 |
Provision of Professional Services to deliver Hunger and Food Security Training |
|
University College Dublin |
854,179 |
MBA Programme - Provision of post-graduate business education fellowships under the Irish Development Experience Sharing (IDEAS) component of Irish Aid Vietnam Country Programme 2011-2015 |
|
University College Dublin |
1,357,160 |
MSc Programme - Provision of post-graduate business education fellowships under the Irish Development Experience Sharing (IDEAS) component of Irish Aid Vietnam Country Programme 2011-2015 |
|
Total V 27 2011 |
2,684, 542 |
47. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if a Government bond for the purpose of providing the necessary resources to address the housing crisis might fall within the realm of the guidelines laid down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of public expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9949/14]
View answerThe primary role of the National Treasury Management Agency is to ensure that sufficient funding is available at all times to meet the day-to-day requirements of the Exchequer. It is a matter for the Agency to decide when and how much to borrow in the light of those needs, commercial considerations surrounding the raising of debt on the markets and the need to maintain an appropriate level of liquidity. All monies raised through Government borrowing are paid into the Central Fund and used to fund Government spending as approved by the Oireachtas. It has never been the custom to link borrowing to specific projects as to do so would limit the flexibility of the Government in managing the State's finances.
48. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of the EU Restructuring Plan referred to by persons (details supplied) in the context of terminations affected by EBS; the EU or national legislation that governs this restructuring plan to ensure it is properly overseen and fully implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9767/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Treaty governing the functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the associated EU State Aid Guidelines requires that all EU banks in receipt of State Aid agree a Restructuring Plan with the EU Commission. The plan must among other requirements outline the restructuring steps to be undertaken to return the bank to viability and ensure that the State Aid is both adequately remunerated and repaid. While the Restructuring Plan relates to the bank concerned the relevant Member State is ultimately responsible for the Plan s delivery. However, as the specifics of the matter referred to is the subject of ongoing litigation I am unable to make any comment at this juncture.
49. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Finance if he will list all positions that the Central Bank of Ireland has sought to fill since 1 January 2013; if these recruitment processes resulted in the employment of an external candidate or an existing employee of the Central Bank of Ireland or the wider public service; if the recruitment policy of the Central Bank of Ireland favours candidates with an employment history with the State and its agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9770/14]
View answerAs Minister for Finance, I have no role in the employment of staff in the Central Bank. Under the Central Bank Act 1942, the Central Bank Commission is responsible for administrating the staff of the Central Bank with a view to enabling the Central Bank to perform and exercise its functions and powers. I have been informed by the Central Bank that the Central Bank Commission approves the staffing plan for the Central Bank on an annual basis and this defines the resourcing needs across the organisation. The Central Bank adopts a thorough recruitment and selection process for all positions with a view to selecting the most suitable candidate for the role whether they are internal or external. I have been further informed by the Central Bank that the selection process involves an initial shortlisting by HR, further shortlisting by the hiring manager against an agreed criteria and role profile, aptitude tests (for more junior roles), interviews (with a selection panel), assessment centre (for senior roles) and second interview. All successful applicants have to complete a probationary period of 6 months. While it is not possible in the given timeframe to list all positions that the Central Bank has sought to fill since 1 January 2013, the Central Bank has informed me that 289 roles were filled in 2013, of which 46% were by external candidates and 54% through internal transfers or promotion.
