asked the Minister for Agriculture the extent to which senior promotion posts in his Department are open to service wide competition irrespective of grade; the number of posts filled by persons from outside his Department since the matter was opened up; if he will give details of each promotion post in his Department which is not open to service wide competition; and the reason for the restriction in each case.
Written Answers. - Promotion Posts.
432.
Normally all senior promotion posts in my Department are filled from within the Department but on occasions a number of such posts have been filled by recruits from outside.
The Minister for the Public Service has indicated that he favours the filling of a proportion of senior posts in all Departments by way of service wide competition and there have been negotiations with staff interests with a view to opening up certain higher posts in the civil service to inter-departmental competition. It is hoped that these proposals can be brought into operation at an early date.