Organisation information
Candidates: Your questions answered
From Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA)
Published on
Last updated on
From Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA)
Published on
Last updated on
As the Commission for Public Service Appointments, we are the principal regulator of recruitment and selection in the Irish public service. The Commission was set up on 19 October 2004 under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004.
The Commission’s members are:
A fair selection process is one that determines the best candidate for a job based on their ability to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role. It is one that adheres to the principles of:
A fair selection process also uses the standards in our Code of Practice so that the principles listed above are applied. The standards relate to:
See our guide to the Code of Practice for more information on these standards and the selection process.
As the Public Service Appointments Commission, we are the main regulator of recruitment and selection in the Irish public service.
Our role is to ensure that any appointments made to publicly funded posts are fair, transparent and based on merit. In our Code of Practice, we set out the key recruitment principles and standards for making an appointment. We also have an oversight role in ensuring that public bodies adhere to those standards.
Our main responsibilities include:
We are responsible for establishing the principles for making an appointment. These are set out in our Code of Practice. The Code also outlines the standards that should be adhered to at each stage of a selection process.
The Code sets out the review and appeal mechanisms open to candidates when they are unhappy with a selection process. It also outlines what is expected from candidates in an appointment process as well as explaining our audit function.
If you are unhappy after a selection process, the Code of Practice outlines the review and appeal mechanisms open to you. You can either request a review of the decision under Section 7 or make a complaint under Section 8.
If you are unhappy after a selection process and you believe a decision was made on incorrect information or that documented procedure was not followed, you can ask for a review under Section 7 of the relevant code.
The decision may be reversed if it is found to have been incorrect.
Alternatively, if you think the selection process was unfair and in breach of the Code of Practice, you can make a complaint under Section 8 of the relevant code.
If the selection process is found to have been unfair, the decision will not be reversed. However, changes may be made to the process to ensure a breach does not happen again.
If a candidate is unhappy with a decision made during a selection process, or they believe it was made on incorrect information or that documented procedure was not followed, they can ask for a review under Section 7 of the Code. The decision may be reversed if it is found to have been incorrect.
Reviews are managed by the public body that carried out the selection process. The organisation should be contacted directly for a review. Information on where candidates should send their requests should be highlighted in the job information booklet.
There are two stages in the review process, informal and formal. An informal process would in most circumstances be initiated initially, however, sometimes the complainant or the public body may want a formal review from the start. In these cases, both parties need to discuss and agree this.
Informal review
The reason why an informal Section 7 review should be submitted and actioned quickly is so that if an error is identified, this will give the public body time to take corrective action without delaying the appointment.
However, the public body is not obliged to stop a selection process if it is asked for a review.
The informal stage often involves a telephone conversation or a meeting with someone linked to the selection process, usually someone in human resources. This will give the candidate an opportunity to:
The reviewer will decide if the original decision was made correctly and if documented procedure was followed. The public body will then decide if any action needs to be taken.
Complaints are initially examined by the public body that carried out the selection process. The review should examine if the recruitment process was in keeping with the Code of Practice.
There are two stages in the complaint process – informal and formal. A complaint will usually be handled informally at first. However, sometimes the candidate or the public body, may want it to be a formal complaint from the start. In such cases, both parties need to discuss and agree this.
Informal complaint
The informal stage often involves a telephone conversation or a meeting with someone linked to the selection process, usually someone in human resources. This will give the candidate an opportunity to:
The reviewer will make an initial decision about the fairness of the process and if there was a breach of the Code of Practice.
The public body will then decide if any action should be taken.
Formal complaint
The public body will appoint an independent reviewer – someone not directly linked to the selection process. They will examine the information available. They may also consult with members of the selection board to discuss aspects of the selection or the assessment process. The reviewer will decide if the selection process was fair or in breach of the Code. If the process is found to be unfair, they may recommend changes to future processes. The public body will then decide if any action should be taken.
If a candidate is not happy with the outcome, they can then appeal it to the Commission. Commission decisions can only be challenged by judicial review.
You must choose between a review of the decision (under Section 7) and a complaint (under Section 8).
If you have already asked for a review, you cannot then make a complaint. We will accept a complaint only in exceptional circumstances.
You must be careful when deciding which mechanism is most appropriate.
See the table below to help you choose the right option.
| When you should request a review of the decision (Section 7) | When you should make a complaint (Section 8) |
| If you are unhappy with the marks you received | If you believe the selection process was unfair |
| If you believe your experience and qualifications were not taken into account | If you can identify one or more breaches in the Code of Practice |
| If you believe the selection board did not follow the process outlined | If you believe the process did not treat candidates consistently or transparently |
| If you believe the marks you received were based on incorrect information | If you are looking for changes to the selection process for the future |
| If you are seeking a reversal of the final decision | If you are not seeking a reversal of the final decision |
You can complain about selection processes for appointments under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004.
You can complain about appointments to:
You cannot complain about appointments to:
If you are unhappy after a selection process, you can either ask for a review of a decision under Section 7 or make a complaint about the process under Section 8.
You should contact the public body’s human resources unit for a review or to make a complaint.
In either case, you should clearly outline the reasons for your request, which should be made within the following timeframes:
Requesting a review of the decision (Section 7)
Making a complaint (Section 8)
A breach in the Code of Practice occurs when the selection process has not been carried out under the principles of:
And it did not adhere to the standards in the Code of Practice.
See our Code of Practice for more information on these standards and the selection process.
We do not have a direct role in recruitment or selection processes. These responsibilities lie with the public body concerned. We have a role only in setting the standards and ensuring the Code is upheld.
In many cases, recruitment to the civil and public service is carried out by the Public Appointments Service
Sometimes, however, a public body may be given a licence to carry out its own recruitment.