Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:104. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons that applied for the role as Ombudsman for Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6508/18]
View answerThursday, 8 February 2018
Questions (104, 105, 106, 107)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:105. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons that were short-listed for interview for the role as Ombudsman for Defence by gender. [6509/18]
View answerFiona O'Loughlin
Question:106. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the criteria used for short-listing for the role as Ombudsman for Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6510/18]
View answerFiona O'Loughlin
Question:107. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the original closing date for applications for the role as Ombudsman for Defence was extended by a week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6511/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 to 107, inclusive, together.
The process of appointment of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces is being conducted by the Public Appointments Service which is an independent recruitment and selection service. As my Department has no involvement in the selection process, information for reply to the Deputy's questions was obtained from the Public Appointments Service as follows:
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
|
No. Applicants |
23 |
11 |
34 |
|
No. Short-listed |
6 |
4 |
10 |
The Public Appointments Service has also advised it is standard procedure and consistent with good recruitment practice, to adopt criteria based on the job description and the personal requirements of the post for the purpose of assessment. In this case, the following criteria were used in line with the requirements advertised in the campaign Information Booklet:
Senior Leadership/Management experience: Experience which demonstrates leadership, managerial and organisational abilities at senior level, the capacity for innovative thinking, budget and resource management and the ability to operate strategically.
Judgement: Track record of experience which demonstrates sound judgement, analytical and decision making skills.
Specialist Experience: Relevant experience in carrying out investigations and responding to complaints.
Finally, the extension of the original closing date for applications for the role of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces related to a delay in placing an advert on the website Ombudsmanassociation.org. In order to give potential candidates sufficient time to apply my Department and the Public Appointments Service agreed to extend the closing date for one week until 18 January 2018. The Public Appointments Service notified all potential candidates who had either applied or downloaded the application form of the extension of the closing date.
As provided for in the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004, the new Ombudsman for the Defence Forces will be appointed by the President on the advice of the Government.