"I have received phone calls and emails from people who are working in state agencies complaining about positions being filled without any interview process. These phone calls and emails were received as a direct result of my highlighting the fact that 1,126 management/administrative posts within the HSE were filled without interview. All of these employees had been 'acting up' in a temporary capacity at a higher grade for a defined period of time prior to being promoted.

"It would appear that the same process is being used in a number of state agencies where employees who had been acting up in a temporary capacity have now been made permanent at the higher grade.

"The lack of a proper and fair interview process to fill very important positions within state agencies is wrong. It is creating uncertainty and is causing concern. Administration and managerial staff play a crucial role in all State agencies.

"It is essential that the best available candidates are given the opportunity to apply for any future vacancies that may arise within public sector organisations. There is also an urgent need for clarity to on the procedures that will be adopted in filling any future managerial positions which cannot be left vacant.

"It was confirmed to me at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children that 1,126 management/administrative posts were filled in the HSE without going through an interview process. Each state agency should now confirm the total number of positions which have been filled in a similar way in their own organisation. There is an urgent need for this issue to be clarified.

"It was never intended that the recruitment embargo would be used as a mechanism to eliminate the job interview process. I have written to the Taoiseach on this matter requesting that adequate procedures would be put in place both in respect of how job vacancies are advertised internally and the interview procedure that would be followed for all of these organisations," said Senator Burke.