Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 September 2014
354. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the new Secretary General of his Department was appointed following a competition for the appointment; if the Top Level Appointments Committee was involved; if the position was advertised; if not, the basis on which the appointment was made and the reason there was no open competition for the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35282/14]
View answerThe Secretary General of a Department is appointed by Government. It is open to Government to offer such an appointment to an existing Secretary General of another Government Department which is what happened in this case where Mr. Jim Breslin, the then Secretary General of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs was offered and accepted the appointment as Secretary General of the Department of Health. Mr Breslin was appointed to his previous position as Secretary General following a competition run by the Top Level Appointments Committee.
