Madam, - The report in your edition of September 25th that the Commission for Public Service Appointments is examining appointments procedures at six institutes of technology following "perceived irregularities" is incorrect. The phrase has never been used by the CPSA and is not an issue. Nor is it the reason for its current review of appointments best practice, which is being conducted at the request of Institutes of Technology Ireland.
The facts of this review are as follows. In late 2005 the Institutes of Technology asked the Public Appointments Service (PAS) - and not the Commission for Public Service Appointments - to conduct a review of best practice in the sector, to benchmark standards and to make recommendations. This pro-active, self-directed initiative was felt to be timely in light of changes in the sector as a result of the Institutes of Technology Act 2006 and other recent public service recruitment legislation.
The review is being undertaken in partnership with representatives of each of the four main unions in the institutes sector - TUI, Amicus, Impact and Siptu - under the broad umbrella of the Towards 2016 agreement. Terms of Reference have been agreed by all parties.
It is deeply disturbing that this agreed process is being portrayed as an effort to address "perceived irregularities". The report included inaccurate inferences that will likely tarnish the good reputation of these institutes.
- Yours, etc,
Dr RICHARD THORN, Chair, Institutes of Technology Ireland; Director, Institute of Technology, Sligo.