Commission for Public Service Appointments

Statutory oversight body in Ireland

The Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA; Irish: Coimisiúin um Cheapacháin Seirbhíse Poiblí) is an independent statutory body which sets standards for recruitment in the public service of the Republic of Ireland.[1] The CPSA licenses the Public Appointments Service (PAS), a separate body which performs the recruitment for the Civil Service and many senior and specialist roles in other parts of the public service.[2]

## Activities

[edit]

The commission's main activities are as follows:

* issuing codes of practice
* carrying out audits of recruitment and selection
* investigating complaints.

### Codes of practice

[edit]

The commission issues codes of practice concerning recruitment and selection.[3] There are currently five codes of practice, relating to appointments in the Civil Service and Public Service, as well as codes to deal with specific situations such as appointment of persons with disabilities, or emergency short-term appointments in the health public sector.[4]

### Recruitment and selection audits

[edit]

The commission carries out audits of recruitment and selection in the public sector, all of which are published. Sometimes these include recommendations.[5]

### Complaints

[edit]

The commission also investigates complaints or formal statutory requests for review under the codes in relation to specific appointments. However it may not quash or alter a recruitment decision.[6]

### Investigations

[edit]

The commission may authorize investigations with wide powers including the right of entry on premises and the right to inspect documents.[7]

### Approved recruitment agencies

[edit]

In a new initiative, the commission intends to establish a list of approved recruitment agencies from the private sector which may be used for public service recruitment.[8]

### Annual reports

[edit]

The commission's annual reports are submitted to each House of the Oireachtas and published on its official website. The commission is supported by a small staff.

## Members of the commission

[edit]

The Commission for Public Service Appointments consists of five ex-officio members, referred to as commissioners.[9]

Office  | Officeholder as of 2025[update][10]

|

Ceann Comhairle | Verona Murphy TD
Secretary General to the Government of Ireland | John Callinan
Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation[a] | David Moloney
Chairperson of the Standards in Public Office Commission | Garrett Sheehan
Ombudsman | Ger Deering

## Office and staff

[edit]

In 2012 the Office of the Commission was amalgamated with the Office of the Ombudsman for administration and accounting purposes.[12][13] This was for cost-cutting purposes.[citation needed] As a result, the commission depends on the staff of the ombudsman.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Prior to 2011, this position was held by the Secretary General, Public Service Management and Development, Department of Finance; it was amended the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011.[11]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 (No. 33 of 2004). Enacted on 6 October 2004. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
2. ^ "Information about the public appointments service". publicjobs.ie. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
3. ^ "Commission for Public Service Appointments". Commission for Public Service Appointments. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
4. ^ "Codes of Practice". Commission for Public Service Appointments. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
5. ^ "Audits". Commission for Public Service Appointments. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
6. ^ "Complaints". Commission for Public Service Appointments. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
7. ^ "Section 18, Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004" (PDF). Dublin: Stationery Office. 2004. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
8. ^ "Approved Recruitment Agencies". Commission for Public Service Appointments. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
9. ^ "Section 12, Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004" (PDF). Dublin: Stationery Office. 2004. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
10. ^ "Members of the Commission". Commission for Public Service Appointments. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
11. ^ Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011, s. 95: Amendment of section 12 of Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 (No. 10 of 2011, s. 95). Enacted on 4 July 2011. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.; Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011). Signed on 28 July 2011. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
12. ^ Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012, s. 20: Staff of Office of Commission (No. 38 of 2012, s. 20). Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
13. ^ "Annual Report 2012, Office of the Ombudsman". Office of the Ombudsman. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Ceann Comhairle
* Department of the Taoiseach
* Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation
* Standards in Public Office Commission
* Office of the Ombudsman