The Public Accounts Committee must be given a key role in vetting candidates for the new Secretaries General positions to be filled at the Departments of An Taoiseach and Public Expenditure and Reform, according to Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming, a former member of the PAC.

Deputy Fleming, who is Spokesperson on Public Sector Reform, said “The Public Accounts Committee must be given this role in the interest of public accountability.  The three appointments are highly significant.  In particular, the new Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will be the Accounting Officer for all spending by the Government.  The PAC is the only forum in which this person can and will be held accountable and therefore it must be able to vet candidates for the post and veto any candidate the committee feels is not of sufficient calibre.”

“It is clear to all that lessons must be learned in relation to the appointment process and calibre of top civil servants, many of whom have financial responsibilities over and above those of some Ministers.  It is also inconceivable that the person to be appointed to these posts would not have significant experience of a financial nature.

“I accept on face value the government’s stated position that all appointments at Principal Officer Level and above will be open to external competition.  Now is the time to prove it and ensure that competition and change in the civil service go right to the top and are not simply applied to more mid-level and junior posts,” concluded Deputy Fleming.