Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956

What is this act about?

This law, the Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956, establishes a body called the Civil Service Commissioners to select individuals for appointment to certain positions within the Civil Service. Its main purpose is to improve and provide for the selection process for these roles.

Who it applies to: Individuals seeking appointment to positions in the Civil Service; The Civil Service of the Government and the Civil Service of the State.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Constitutional law and human rights
Articles: 33
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The appointment and number of Civil Service Commissioners.
The selection of persons for established and unestablished positions in the Civil Service, with some exceptions.
The holding of competitions and the regulations governing them for Civil Service appointments.
The determination of whether certain appointments are considered "in the customary course" for promotion or transfer.

Who does this act apply to?

Individuals seeking appointment to positions in the Civil Service.
The Civil Service of the Government and the Civil Service of the State.

What are the key points?

The Act establishes the Civil Service Commissioners to select persons for appointment to Civil Service positions.
Appointments to established and unestablished positions generally require selection through competitions, with certain exceptions.
The Commissioners can declare specific unestablished positions as "excluded positions" for the purposes of the Act, usually at the request of the appropriate authority and with the Minister's consent.
The "appropriate authority" for a position varies, including the Taoiseach for staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas or the Attorney General, and the Minister for Finance for staff of the Comptroller and Auditor General or the Revenue Commissioners.

Constitutional law and human rights

Constitution of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Eireann) Act, 1922

Treaty (Confirmation of Amending Agreement) Act, 1925

Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1927

Electoral (Seanad Elections) Act, 1925

Referendum (Amendment) Act, 1983

Referendum (Amendment) Act, 1984

Oireachtas (Payment of Members) Act, 1933

Constitutional law and human rights

Legal text

Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1956 Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956 Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 45 of 1956.

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS ACT, 1956.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Part I.

PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL.

Section

Section 1

Short title and commencement.

Section 2

Interpretation.

Section 3

“The appropriate authority.”

Section 4

Scheduled occupations.

Section 5

Excluded positions.

Section 6

Operation of the Act.

Section 7

Administrative expenses.

Section 8

Repeals.

Part II.

Civil Service Commissioners.

Section 9

Appointment and number of Civil Service Commissioners.

Section 10

Other provisions in relation to the Commissioners.

Section 11

Staff of the Commissioners.

Section 12

Authentication of instruments made by the Commissioners.

Part III.

APPOINTMENTS TO CERTAIN POSITIONS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Chapter I.

Competitive Appointments.

Section 13

Appointment of persons to established positions, with certain exceptions.

Section 14

Appointment of persons to unestablished positions, with certain exceptions.

Section 15

Competitions.

Section 16

Regulations in respect of competitions.

Section 17

Selection of candidates for appointment after a competition.

Chapter II.

Non-competitive Appointments

Section 18

Determination of questions as to whether proposed appointments on promotion or transfer are in the customary course.

Section 19

Qualifications for an appointment to which section 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24 applies.

Section 20

Appointment from established position to another position on promotion or transfer not in the customary course.

Section 21

Appointment to established position under section 11 of the Regulation Act.

Section 22

Appointment excluded, by section 13 (4), from section 13 (1) (established position).

Section 23

Appointment from unestablished position to another unestablished position on promotion or transfer not in the customary course.

Section 24

Appointment to unestablished position under section 11 of the Regulation Act.

Section 25

Expenses incurred by proposed appointees in connection with requirements of Commissioners under section 19.

Chapter III.

Certificates of Qualification

Section 26

Certificates of qualification in respect of certain appointments to established positions.

Section 27

Notional possession of certificate of qualification in case of certain appointments.

PART IV.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

Section 28

Application of section 12 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, to person promoted in acting capacity where promotion not in the customary course.

Section 29

Commissioners to hold certain other competitions, etc.

Section 30

Rules governing conduct of candidates at competitions, etc.

Section 31

Personation of candidate at competitions, examinations, etc.

Section 32

Provisions in relation to orders, regulations and rules.

Section 33

Disposal of fees.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

Scheduled Occupations.

SECOND SCHEDULE.

Enactments Repealed.

Acts Referred to Civil Service Regulation Act, 1924 No. 5 of 1924 Defence Act, 1954 No. 18 of 1954 Interpretation Act, 1937 No. 38 of 1937 Number 45 of 1956.

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS ACT, 1956.

AN ACT TO MAKE FURTHER AND BETTER PROVISION IN RELATION TO THE SELECTION OF PERSONS FOR APPOINTMENT TO CERTAIN POSITIONS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE AND FOR THIS PURPOSE TO ESTABLISH A BODY, TO BE CALLED THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONERS, TO SELECT PERSONS FOR APPOINTMENT TO THOSE POSITIONS AND TO FULFIL CERTAIN OTHER FUNCTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER RELATED MATTERS. [19th December, 1956.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:—

PART I.

Preliminary and General.

Short title and commencement.

1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956.

(2)This Act shall come into operation on such day as may be fixed therefor by order of the Government.

Interpretation.

2.—(1) In this Act, the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them, that is to say— “the Act of 1924” means the Civil Service Regulation Act, 1924 (No. 5 of 1924); “the appropriate authority” has the meaning assigned to it by section 3; “the Civil Service” means the Civil Service of the Government and the Civil Service of the State; “the Commissioners” means the Civil Service Commissioners appointed or deemed to have been appointed under section 9; “competition” means a competition held under section 15; “established position” means a position in which there is rendered established service; “established service” means service in a capacity in respect of which a superannuation allowance may be granted under the Superannuation Acts, 1834 to 1954; “excluded position” has the meaning assigned to it by subsection (6) of section 5; “the former Civil Service Commissioners” means the Civil Service Commissioners appointed under section 1 of the Act of 1924; “may”, when used in relation to any power conferred on the Commissioners by this Act, shall be construed as permissive and not imperative; “member of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas” does not include an officer of the Houses of the Oireachtas; “the Minister” means the Minister for Finance; “officer of the Houses of the Oireachtas” means a person being— (a) the Clerk or Clerk-Assistant of Dáil Éireann, or Seanad Éireann, or (b) the Librarian or Assistant Librarian, Houses of the Oireachtas, or (c) the Superintendent, Houses of the Oireachtas, or (d) the Captain of the Guard, Houses of the Oireachtas; “order of merit” means the order in which candidates at a competition are to be placed for the purposes of selection by the Commissioners for appointment; “position” means a position in the Civil Service, and includes the position held by a member of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas; “the Regulation Act” means the Civil Service Regulation Act, 1956; “scheduled occupation” has the meaning assigned to it by subsection (1) of section 4; “unestablished position” means a position which is not an established position, and includes a position which is held on a temporary basis or for a definite limited period.

(2)In this Act, a reference by number to a section is to the section of this Act bearing that number unless it is indicated that a reference to another Act is intended. “The appropriate authority.”

3.—(1) In this Act, “the appropriate authority” means— (a) in relation to the position of member of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas—the Taoiseach, (b) in relation to the position of an officer of the Attorney General—the Taoiseach, (c) in relation to the position of member of the staff of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General—the Minister, (d) in relation to the position of member of the staff of the office of the Revenue Commissioners—the Minister, or (e) in relation to any other position—the Minister of State by whom the power of appointment to that position is for the time being exercisable.

(2)Where a delegation, under the provision of the Regulation Act mentioned in column (2) of the Table to this subsection at any reference number, is made, then, so long as the delegation remains in force, the authority mentioned in column (3) of the said Table at that reference number shall, in lieu of the Minister of State mentioned in column (4) of the said Table at that reference number, be, for the purposes of section 5, the appropriate authority in relation to the position mentioned in column (5) of the said Table at that reference number.

Table to Section 3 (2) Reference No.

Provision of Regulation Act under which delegation made.

Authority to whom delegation made.

Minister of State by whom delegation made.

Position in relation to which delegation made.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)1

Section 2 (2) (a)

Chairman of Dáil Éireann The Taoiseach Position of member of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Section 2 (2) (c)

Attorney General The Taoiseach Position of officer of the Attorney General.

Section 2 (2) (d)

Comptroller and Auditor General The Minister Position of member of the staff of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Section 2 (2) (e)

The Revenue Commissioners The Minister Position of member of the staff of the office of the Revenue Commissioners.

Scheduled occupations.

4.—(1) Each of the occupations specified in the First Schedule to this Act shall, save where the service to be rendered by the person to be appointed is to be established service, be a scheduled occupation for the purposes of this Act, and in this Act the expression “scheduled occupation” shall be construed accordingly.

(2)If any question arises as to whether a particular occupation is or is not a scheduled occupation, the question shall be decided by the Minister after consultation with the Commissioners.

(3)If any question arises as to whether an appointment to a scheduled occupation is or is not or was or was not an appointment to a position in the Civil Service, the question shall be decided by the Minister.

Excluded positions.

5.—(1) (a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection, the Commissioners may by order declare that a specified unestablished position (not being a position which is in a scheduled occupation) shall be an excluded position for the purposes of this Act, and the Commissioners may provide therein that the order is to remain in force for such period only as the Commissioners determine and specify in the order. (b) The Commissioners shall not make in relation to an unestablished position an order under paragraph (a) of this subsection except at the request of the appropriate authority and, if the appropriate authority is not the Minister, with the consent of the Minister. (c) In this section— “limited period order” means an order under paragraph (a) of this subsection which is expressed to remain in force for a specified period only; “unlimited period order” means an order under the said paragraph (a) which is not so expressed.

(2)Where— (a) an order (in this section referred to as a scheduling (1924 Act) order) has been made, under subsection (2) of section 10 of the Act of 1924, adding a situation to the Schedule to the Act of 1924, and (b) the situation was, immediately before the commencement of this Act, comprised in the said Schedule, and (c) the situation is not a situation in a scheduled occupation, then, for the purposes of this section (except subsection (5) thereof), the following provisions shall, on the commencement of this Act, have effect, that is to say— (i) the scheduling (1924 Act) order shall cease to be in force, (ii) in case the scheduling (1924 Act) order provided that the situation would be withdrawn from the said Schedule after a specified date—there shall be deemed to have been duly made in relation to the position a limited period order expressed to remain in force for the period ending on that date, (iii) in any other case—there shall be deemed to have been duly made in relation to the position an unlimited period order.

(3)(a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection, where a limited period order is in force, the Commissioners may, from time to time, by order extend the period for which the limited period order is to remain in force. (b) The Commissioners shall not make in relation to an unestablished position an order under paragraph (a) of this subsection except at the request of the appropriate authority and, if the appropriate authority is not the Minister, with the consent of the Minister.

(4)Where an unlimited period order in relation to an unestablished position is in force, the Commissioners may, with the consent of the Minister and, if the Minister is not the appropriate authority, after consultation with the appropriate authority, by order revoke, with effect as from a specified date, the unlimited period order.

(5)Where an order is made under this section, notice of the making thereof shall be published in the Iris Oifigiúil as soon as may be after it is made.

(6)Any position to which an order under subsection (1) or (3) of this section applies shall, so long as the order remains in force, be, for the purposes of this Act, an excluded position, and the expression “excluded position” shall, in this Act, be construed accordingly.

Operation of the Act.

6.—(1) This Act shall cease to apply to members of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas on the date on which the Regulation Act ceases, by virtue of subsection (1) of section 20 of that Act, to apply to members of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

(2)This Act— (a) does not apply to the appointment of a person to a position being— (i) a position, the appointment to which is made by the Government, or (ii) the position held by an officer of the Houses of the Oireachtas, (b) does not, save as is provided by section 4, apply to the appointment of a person to a scheduled occupation, whether the Minister has or has not under subsection (3) of section 4 decided that such appointment is to a position in the Civil Service, (c) does not, save as is provided by section 5, apply to the appointment of a person to a position which is for the time being an excluded position, (d) does not apply to the appointment of a superannuated person to an established position consequential on his being called upon, under section 11 of the Superannuation Act, 1859, to serve again in the Civil Service, (e) does not, save as is provided by subsection (2) of section 27, apply to the appointment of a person to a position under section 7 or 15 of the Regulation Act, (f) does not, save as is provided by subsection (3) of section 27, apply to the appointment of a person to the position of commissioner for the special purposes of the Income Tax Acts, (g) does not apply to the appointment of a person to a position in which such person is required to serve on trial under section 11 or 12 of the Regulation Act, (h) does not apply to the employment of civilians by the Minister for Defence under section 30 of the Defence Act, 1954 (No. 18 of 1954).

(3)Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting section 13 of the British statute (17 & 18 Vic. c. 99) passed in the year 1854 and entitled “An Act to provide for the Establishment of a National Gallery of Paintings, Sculpture, and the Fine Arts, for the Care of a Public Library, and the Erection of a Public Museum, in Dublin.”

Administrative expenses.

7.—The expenses incurred in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.

Repeals.

8.—(1) The enactments mentioned in column (2) of the Second Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent mentioned in column (3) of that Schedule.

(2)Without prejudice to sections 20 and 21 of the Interpretation Act, 1937 (No. 38 of 1937)— (a) nothing in the repeal effected by subsection (1) of this section shall affect any regulation made, certificate of qualification issued or thing done under any enactment repealed by the said subsection (1), but any such regulation made, certificate of qualification issued or thing done shall, if in force at the commencement of this Act, continue in force, and have effect as if made, issued or done under this Act; (b) in any enactment (other than this Act)— (i) references to the Act of 1924 or to the Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1924 and 1926, shall be construed as references to this Act, and (ii) references to any provision of the Act of 1924 shall be construed as references to the corresponding provision of this Act; (c) references in any enactment to the former Civil Service Commissioners shall be construed as references to the Commissioners.

PART II.

Civil Service Commissioners.

Appointment and number of Civil Service Commissioners.

9.—(1) The Government shall from time to time as occasion requires appoint fit and proper persons to be Civil Service Commissioners to fulfil the functions assigned to them by this Act.

(2)The number of the Commissioners shall be three.

(3)(a) The Commissioners may act notwithstanding that there is one vacancy in their number or that any one Commissioner is temporarily absent. (b) If the Commissioners so consent or, if in the event of a vacancy a Commissioner so consents, any one of the Commissioners may act for them in the event of the temporary absence of the other Commissioners or Commissioner.

(4)The first Commissioners shall be the persons who, immediately before the commencement of this Act, held office as the former Civil Service Commissioners, and those persons shall be deemed to have been appointed Commissioners under subsection (1) of this section.

Other provisions in relation to the Commissioners.

10.—(1) Each Commissioner shall hold office at the will and pleasure of the Government.

(2)A Commissioner may at any time resign his office by letter addressed to and sent to the Government,

(3)Each Commissioner shall receive such (if any) remuneration as the Minister may from time to time determine.

(4)Notice of every appointment of a person to be a Commissioner (other than an appointment deemed, by virtue of subsection (4) of section 9, to have been made under subsection (1) of that section) and of every resignation or removal from office of a Commissioner shall be published forthwith in the Iris Oifigiúil.

Staff of the Commissioners.

11.—(1) The Minister shall appoint to serve in positions on the staff of the Commissioners such and so many persons as he considers necessary.

(2)Every person who immediately before the commencement of this Act was an officer of the former Civil Service Commissioners shall, on the commencement of this Act, be deemed to have been appointed by the Minister to a position on the staff of the Commissioners.

Authentication of instruments made by the Commissioners.

12.—(1) In this section, “instrument” means an order, regulation, rule or certificate of qualification.

(2)Every instrument made or issued by the Commissioners shall be signed by at least one Commissioner and by some member of the staff of the Commissioners authorised by them in that behalf.

(3)Every instrument which purports to be an instrument made or issued by the Commissioners and to be signed in accordance with subsection (2) of this section shall be received in evidence in all Courts and be deemed, until the contrary is proved, to have been duly made or issued by the Commissioners, and it shall not be necessary to prove any signature affixed thereto or the office or authority of the person whose signature such signature purports to be.

PART III.

Appointments to certain Positions in the Civil Service.

Chapter I.

Competitive Appointments.

Appointment of persons to established positions, with certain exceptions.

13.—(1) No person shall be appointed to an established position unless the Commissioners, after holding a competition under section 15, have, under section 17, selected him for appointment to that position.

(2)Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to— (a) the appointment of a person to an established position on promotion or transfer from another established position, or (b) the appointment of a person to an established position under section 11 of the Regulation Act.

(3)Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to the appointment of a person to a particular established position where— (a) the appropriate authority with, in case he is not the Minister, the consent of the Minister, recommends the appointment of that person to that established position, and (b) the Government, having considered such recommendation, decide that such appointment would be in the public interest.

(4)Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to the appointment of a person to a particular established position where— (a) that person was appointed to an unestablished position as the result of a competition, the regulations for which made under subsection (3) of section 16 provide that a person appointed thereto may, in certain specified circumstances, be subsequently appointed to that established position, and (b) the Commissioners are satisfied that the provisions of the said regulations, relating to his prospective appointment to the said established position and such conditions as they may determine have been complied with.

Appointment of persons to unestablished positions, with certain exceptions.

14.—(1) No person shall be appointed to an unestablished position unless the Commissioners, after holding a competition under section 15, have, under section 17, selected him for appointment to that position.

(2)Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to— (a) the appointment of a person to an unestablished position on promotion or transfer from another unestablished position, which is neither a position in a scheduled occupation nor an excluded position, or (b) the appointment of a person to an unestablished position under section 11 of the Regulation Act.

(3)Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to the appointment of a person to a particular unestablished position where— (a) the appropriate authority with, in case he is not the Minister, the consent of the Minister, recommends the appointment of that person to that unestablished position, and (b) the Government, having considered such recommendation, decide that such appointment would be in the public interest.

Competitions.

15.—(1) The Commissioners shall, subject to the consent of the Minister, hold such competitions as they consider necessary for the selection of persons for appointments to which either subsection (1) of section 13 or subsection (1) of section 14 applies.

(2)Where— (a) it is proposed to make an appointment or appointments to a position or positions and either paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 13 or paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 14 applies to the appointment or appointments, and (b) the Minister decides that it is proper that the person or persons to be appointed should be selected by means of competition, and requests the Commissioners to hold such a competition, then, the Commissioners shall hold the competition.

(3)Every competition shall consist of such one or more of the following types of test as the Commissioners direct— (a) a written examination, (b) an oral examination, (c) an interview, (d) a practical examination, (e) any other test or tests considered by the Commissioners to be appropriate.

(4)Where a competition consists of more than one of the types of test specified in subsection (3) of this section not more than one of the tests need be competitive.

(5)The Commissioners may make admission to any test conditional on a candidate's reaching such a standard as the Commissioners consider requisite.

Regulations in respect of competitions.

16.—(1) Where it is proposed to hold a competition for appointment to one or more positions, the Commissioners shall make regulations which shall include provisions in relation to the following matters— (a) the type or types of test of which the competition shall consist, (b) where the competition is to be in whole or in part a written examination, the subject or subjects of the written examination, (c) the mode of application for admission to the competition, (d) the manner in which the order of merit of the candidates is to be determined.

(2)The Commissioners may, in making regulations under subsection (1) of this section in relation to a competition, provide, in addition to the matters specified in the said subsection (1), for all or any of the following matters— (a) the confining of the competition to citizens of Ireland, (b) the confining of the competition to a specified class of persons defined in such manner and by reference to such things (including service in the Civil Service, sex and physical characteristics) as the Commissioners think proper, (c) the requirement that, where females are not excluded from the competition, a female candidate to be eligible for selection shall be unmarried or a widow, (d) the age limits for candidates, (e) the fee to be paid for admission to the competition, (f) the expenditure (including fees for medical examination) to be met by candidates in satisfying the provisions of the regulations as to health, (g) such other matters (including qualifications) as the Commissioners think proper.

(3)The Commissioners may, in making regulations under subsection (1) of this section in relation to a competition for an appointment to an unestablished position, provide that the person appointed thereto may, in certain specified circumstances, be subsequently appointed to a specified established position.

(4)The Commissioners may make general regulations relating to all competitions or to competitions for appointments to positions of a particular class, description or grade, and may, in relation to a particular competition, do any of the following things by regulations made under subsection (1) of this section— (a) provide that all or any of the general regulations shall not apply, (b) modify all or any of the general regulations.

(5)Regulations under subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this section shall not be made without the consent of the Minister.

Selection of candidates for appointment after a competition.

17.—(1) For the purposes of this section, a person shall be accepted by the Commissioners as qualified for appointment to a position for which a competition is held if, but only if, the Commissioners are satisfied that— (a) he possesses the requisite knowledge and ability to enter on the discharge of the duties of that position, (b) he is within the age limits (if any) prescribed for that position by regulations made under section 16 and applicable to the competition, (c) he is in good health and free from any physical defect or disease which would be likely to interfere with the proper discharge of his duties in that position and possesses the physical characteristics (if any) prescribed for the position by the said regulations, (d) he is suitable on grounds of character, and (e) he is suitable in all other relevant respects for appointment to that position.

(2)Where a competition has been held under section 15, the Commissioners shall select for appointment from the competition such number of candidates as they think proper, subject however as follows— (a) selection shall be made in accordance with the order of merit as determined under the regulations made under section 16 and applicable to the competition, (b) only candidates who have been accepted by the Commissioners as qualified for appointment and have complied with the said regulations shall be so selected, and (c) the filling of the positions for which the candidates are required has been approved by the Minister.

(3)If any question arises under this section as to whether a particular candidate is or is not qualified for appointment to a particular position or as to the place of a particular candidate in the order of merit the question shall be decided by the Commissioners whose decision shall be final.

Chapter II.

Non-competitive Appointments.

Determination of questions as to whether proposed appointments on promotion or transfer are in the customary course.

18.—(1) If any question arises under this Act as to whether the proposed appointment of a person to a position on promotion or transfer from another position is or is not in the customary course of promotion or transfer, as the case may be, the question shall be decided by the Commissioners.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section the Commissioners may from time to time decide what classes of promotions or transfers are to be regarded as being in the customary course of promotion or transfer.

Qualifications for an appointment to which section 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24 applies.

19.—Where— (a) it is proposed to appoint a person to a particular position, and (b) section 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24 applies to the appointment, that person shall be treated, for the purposes of that section, as having been accepted by the Commissioners as qualified for appointment to that position if, but only if, the Commissioners are satisfied that he fulfils such requirements in respect of such of the following matters, knowledge, ability, age, health, physical characteristics, character and other relevant matters as the Commissioners may determine.

Appointment from established position to another position on promotion or transfer not in the customary course.

20.—(1) Where— (a) it is proposed to appoint a person to an established position (in this section referred to as the new position) on promotion or transfer from another established position, and (b) the proposed promotion or transfer is otherwise than in the customary course of promotion or transfer, as that course has been decided by the Commissioners, he shall not be appointed to the new position unless and until he has been accepted by the Commissioners as qualified for appointment thereto.

(2)Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to the promotion or transfer, not in the customary course of promotion or transfer, of a person from an established position to another position in an acting capacity.

Appointment to established position under section 11 of the Regulation Act.

21.—Where it is proposed to appoint, under section 11 of the Regulation Act, a widow to an established position, she shall not be appointed to that position unless and until she has been accepted by the Commissioners as qualified for appointment thereto.

Appointment excluded, by section 13 (4), from section 13 (1) (established position).

22.—Where— (a) it is proposed to appoint a person to an established position, and (b) the proposed appointment is one to which, by virtue of subsection (4) of section 13, subsection (1) of section 13 does not apply, he shall not be appointed to that position unless and until he has been accepted by the Commissioners as qualified for appointment thereto.

Appointment from unestablished position to another unestablished position on promotion or transfer not in the customary course.

23.—Where— (a) it is proposed to appoint a person to an unestablished position (in this section referred to as the new position) on promotion or transfer from another unestablished position, which is neither a position in a scheduled occupation nor an excluded position, and (b) the proposed promotion or transfer is otherwise than in the customary course of promotion or transfer, as that course has been decided by the Commissioners, he shall not be appointed to the new position unless and until he has been accepted by the Commissioners as qualified for appointment thereto.

Appointment to unestablished position under section 11 of the Regulation Act.

24.—Where it is proposed to appoint, under section 11 of the Regulation Act, a widow to an unestablished position, she shall not be appointed to that position unless and until she has been accepted by the Commissioners as qualified for appointment thereto.

Expenses incurred by proposed appointees in connection with requirements of Commissioners under section 19.

25.—Where— (a) it is proposed to appoint a person to a position, and (b) the appointment is one to which section 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24 applies, such person shall, unless the Commissioners, with the concurrence of the Minister, otherwise determine, bear any expenses (including fees for medical examination) which he may incur in connection with the fulfilment of the requirements of the Commissioners under section 19.

Chapter III.

Certificates of Qualification.

Certificates of qualification in respect of certain appointments to established positions.

26.—(1) Where a person (in this subsection referred to as the appointee), who is either (i) a person who has been selected for appointment to an established position under section 17 or (ii) a person to whose proposed appointment to an established position section 20, 21 or 22 applies, has been accepted by the Commissioners as qualified for appointment to the position (in this subsection referred to as the said position) for which he has been selected or to which it is proposed to appoint him (as the case may be)— (a) the Commissioners shall as soon as may be thereafter, issue a certificate which shall state that the appointee has been accepted by them as qualified for appointment to the said position and the date of such acceptance, (b) the certificate shall have effect as on and from that date.

(2)A certificate issued under subsection (1) of this section shall be called and known as a certificate of qualification.

(3)Where a certificate of qualification is required by subsection (1) of this section to be issued, the Commissioners may defer the issue thereof until the person in whose favour it is to be issued has taken up the duties of the position.

(4)The Commissioners may— (a) cancel any certificate of qualification issued in error or as the result of fraud or deceit. (b) correct errors in a certificate of qualification.

Notional possession of certificate of qualification in case of certain appointments.

27.—(1) Where— (a) a person is appointed to an established position, and (b) the appointment is one to which subsection (3) of section 13 applies, he shall be deemed from the date of such appointment to possess a certificate of qualification in respect of that position, and the Minister of State by whom the appointment is made shall publish in the Iris Oifigiúil a notice of the appointment which shall state that the appointee is a person to whose appointment subsection (3) of section 13 applies.

(2)Where— (a) a person is appointed under section 7 or 15 of the Regulation Act to an established position, and (b) he does not possess a certificate of qualification in respect of that position, he shall be deemed as from the date of such appointment to possess a certificate of qualification in respect of that position.

(3)Where a person is appointed under subsection (1) of section 67 of the Income Tax Act, 1918, to be a commissioner for the special purposes of the Income Tax Acts, such appointment shall be to an unestablished position, unless the Minister directs that such appointment shall be to an established position, in which case that person shall be deemed, as from the date of his appointment in pursuance of such direction, to possess a certificate of qualification in respect of his position as such commissioner.

PART IV.

Miscellaneous Provisions.

Application of section 12 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, to person promoted in acting capacity where promotion not in the customary course.

28.—Where— (a) a person serving in an established position is promoted in an acting capacity to another position, and (b) the promotion is otherwise than in the customary course of promotion, as that course has been determined by the Commissioners, and (c) he is, while serving in such acting capacity, appointed substantively to that other position and a certificate of qualification has been issued by the Commissioners in respect of that other position, section 12 of the Superannuation Act, 1834, shall apply to him as if he had been appointed substantively to that other position from the date of his promotion in an acting capacity.

Commissioners to hold certain other competitions, etc.

29.—(1) The Commissioners shall hold— (a) all competitions, examinations, interviews and tests which are for the time being required by law to be held by the Commissioners, (b) such other competitions, examinations, interviews and tests as the Government or the Minister may from time to time direct.

(2)The Commissioners, with the consent of the Minister, may make regulations in relation to any competition, examination, interview or test held by them under this section, and may by such regulations fix the fee to be paid for admission to any such competition, examination, interview or test.

Rules governing conduct of candidates at competitions, etc.

30.—(1) The Commissioners may make rules governing the conduct of candidates at competitions, examinations, interviews or tests held by them under this Act and providing for other matters in relation to the holding of such competitions, examinations, interviews or tests.

(2)The Commissioners may, in rules made under this section, provide for the disqualification or penalisation, at the discretion of the Commissioners, of candidates who fail to observe the rules under this section governing the conduct of candidates.

Personation of candidate at competitions, examinations, etc.

31.—If any person personates a candidate at a competition, examination, interview or test held by the Commissioners under this Act, or at any medical examination held under this Act, that person shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds or, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

Provisions in relation to orders, regulations and rules.

32.—(1) Orders, regulations and rules made by the Commissioners under this Act shall, for the purposes of the Statutory Instruments Acts, 1947 and 1955, be deemed not to be statutory instruments to which those Acts primarily apply.

(2)Whenever the Commissioners make regulations under this Act— (a) notice of the making thereof shall be published in the Iris Oifigiúil, and (b) the notice shall state when and where copies of the regulations may be obtained.

Disposal of fees.

33.—(1) The following provisions shall apply to fees payable by candidates under this Act— (a) the fees shall be collected and taken in such manner as the Minister may from time to time direct, and shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in accordance with the directions of the Minister, (b) the Public Offices Fees Act, 1879, shall not apply in respect of the fees.

(2)Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section does not apply to fees in respect of medical examinations which are payable by candidates direct to doctors carrying out those examinations.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

Scheduled Occupations.

Sections 4 and 6 .

Employment— 1. as porter, doorkeeper, adult messenger, night-watchman, charwoman, cleaner or analogous employment.

2.as artisan or other such skilled worker.

3.in the Wireless Broadcasting Service.

4.in a clerical or ancillary capacity in offices of the Department of External Affairs abroad, excluding Britain.

5.in a part-time capacity (other than as teacher in the National College of Art or as District Court Clerk).

6.as a person hired to perform only subordinate duties or ordinary labour as and when required.

SECOND SCHEDULE.

Enactments Repealed.

Section 8 (1)

Number and year Short Title Extent of Repeal

(1)

(2)

(3)No. 5 of 1924 Civil Service Regulation Act, 1924 .

The whole Act, so far as unrepealed.

No. 41 of 1926 Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Act, 1926 .

The whole Act.

Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.