Competition Circular 15/16 General Operative

INFORMATION BOOKLET FOR CANDIDATES

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

OPEN COMPETITION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE POSITION

OF

GENERAL OPERATIVE

In the

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committed to a policy of equal opportunity. This competition will be run in compliance with the Codes of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). Codes of Practice are published by the CPSA and are available on

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE POSITION

The Marine Engineering Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for a variety of coastal activities including the development of the marine and coastal infrastructure and the efficient management of the Department’s six fishery harbour centres.

The Department has a number of vacancies for General Operativesat the Fishery Harbour Centres located atHowth, Co Dublin, Dunmore East, Co Waterford, Castletownbere, Co Cork, and Killybegs, Co Donegal. The General Operative shall principally work under the direction of a Departmentforeman who reports to the Fishery Harbour Centre HarbourMaster.

Candidates may apply for one or more of these locations and should clearly indicate their choice when completing the application form. Separate panels will be established for each of the above locations and successful candidates will be ranked in order of merit on the panel relating to their chosen location. Appointments from each panel will be made as vacancies arise. Each panel will remain in force for a period of up to two years from the date of the first appointment. The appointment will be subject to a probationary period of one year.

  1. The Job

General Operatives will be required to carry out maintenance and construction related work at the ports including piers, slipways, ladders, bollards and other port infrastructure. The General Operative will also assist in ensuring that harbour property, piers and structures are maintained as safe and clean areas. The duties will also involve assisting with vessels berthing and landing fish, the movement of vessels to/from the Department’s boatyard (where boatyard facilities are provided) and provide quayside service to vessels when required.

General Operatives may also be required to carry out maintenance and repairs to other piers, slipways in other locations outside of the Fishery Harbour Centres from time to time, as directed by the Department’s Marine Engineering Division.

The following is a list of the duties, which the holder of the post will be expected to

Undertake:

(a)Carrying out maintenance and repairs within the Fishery Harbour Centre

(b)Carrying out maintenance and repairs to other piers, slipways etc, as directed by the Department’s Engineering Division

(c)Ensuring the safe keeping of all plant, tools, equipment and materials in your charge, or in use by others on site within your supervision

(d)Co-operating with the Department with regard to Safety, Health and Welfare at Work and comply with relevant Health and Safety legislation. Provide, where required, the duties of deputy Designated Person in Charge of Safety for site works

(e)Driving vehicles and machinery as required for the performance of harbour duties

(f)Ensuring that harbour property, piers and structures are maintained as safe and clean working areas

(g)Assisting vessels berthing and landing and servicing vessels when required

(h)Assisting in works involving the syncrolifts and boatyard area (where boatyard facilities are provided). This could involve raising and lowering vessels on the syncrolifts platform, movement of vessels in the boatyard area as well as maintenance of the equipment

(i)Such other duties, of an appropriate nature, which may be allocated by the Minister or his assistants

The foregoing is not an exhaustive list of duties which may be entrusted to the General Operative from time to time. The person appointed is required to be flexible in the position, willing to undertake other work outside the foregoing and will be required to work outside normal working hours in accordance with the operational demand of the Fishery Harbour Centres.

  1. The Person

Essential Requirements

Candidates on the latest date for receipt of application must have:

1)a minimum oftwo yearsexperience working in construction plus a minimumof two years experience working in a marine related environment

2)a current Class B driving licence

3)a current SOLAS Safe Pass registration card or equivalent

4)the candidate must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including the ability to communicate effectively in English, and be fully capable on entry to discharge the duties of the position.

  1. Selection Process

The selection process may include some or all of the following methods of assessment;

  • shortlisting of candidates on the basis of the information contained in their application
  • an interview
  • any other tests or exercises that may be deemed appropriate

Candidates who meet the essential requirements will undergo a process of short listing based on the information contained in their application form on the basis of the following competencies or skills:

1)Experience and knowledge of Boats, the Marine Environment and Harbour Facilities

2)Construction and Maintenance skills

3)Teamworking and Communication skills

4)Health and Safety Awareness.

It is in candidates’ interest to provide a detailed and accurate account of their experiences relevant to this post in the application form.

When submitting an application form, the candidate should provide copies of any qualifications, training certificates or CSCS registration cards (or equivalent) that demonstrate their skills in some or all of the above four areas. Any training certificates and cards provided should be in date.

  1. Pay

The pay scale for General Operatives employed in a Rural location (applicable to Dunmore East, Castletownbere, and Killybegs) and who are required under the Single Public Service Pension Scheme to make a Personal Pension Contribution (PCC) is;

€501.48, €532.34, €557.20, €566.99, 576.80, €586.59, €596.38, €600.18, €609.87

The pay scale for General Operatives employed in a Dublin location (applicable to Howth) and who are required under the Single Public Service Pension Scheme to make a Personal Pension Contribution (PCC) is;

€486.28, €517.15, €540.31, €550.11, €559.91, €569.72, €579.51, €589.33, €599.11

Candidates should note that entry will be at the minimum point of the scale and will not be subject to negotiation, and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

  1. Application Process

Persons interested in applying for this position are required to complete the application form that accompanies this booklet. Application forms may also be downloaded from the Department’s website at:

Please complete all sections of the application form, sign it and return to:

Ms Chris Troy

Competitions and Recruitment Section

Human Resources Division

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Eir Building

Knockmay Road

Portlaoise

Co Laois

by 4pm on Friday 9th December2016.

Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates who send their applications by post should allow sufficient time to ensure delivery not laterthan the closing date.

  1. Conditions of Service

Eligibility to Compete and Certain Restrictions on Eligibility

Candidates should note that eligibility to compete is open to citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union along with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Swiss citizens under EU agreements may also apply.

Tenure & Probation:

The appointment is to a whole-time permanent position subject to a minimum period of twelve months on probation.

Should the officer's services be satisfactory as regards health, conduct and efficiency generally during the probationary period, the appointment of the officer to a permanent position will be confirmed. Should the officer's services be unsatisfactory, the appointment may be terminated at any time during the probationary period. All employees will comply with any performance management development system in place.

The employee may not engage in private practice or be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official duties or conflict in any way with the position.

Official Secrecy and Integrity

During the term of the appointment, an officer will be subject to the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1963, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2014. The officer will agree not to disclose to third parties any confidential information either during or subsequent to the period of employment.

Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour:

The officer will be subject to the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour.

Hours of Attendance:

Standard hours of attendance will be 39 hours net per week.

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time. Working hours are normally 08.00 to 16.30 on Monday to Thursday and 08.00 to 15.30 on Friday, however local variations may apply at different workplaces

  1. Further Important Information

Confidentiality

Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, applications will be treated in strict confidence.

Health:

A candidate for, and any person holding the office, must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Clearance Procedure

Candidates who come under consideration for appointment to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will be required to undergo a clearance procedure that will include, but is not restricted to, security checks by An Garda Síochána on all Irish and Northern Irish addresses at which they resided, verification of identity, qualifications, experience, and medical status, and the provision of references. In addition the Department may make any other queries deemed necessary to establish the candidate’s suitability for the post. Until all stages of the recruitment process have been fully completed a final determination cannot be made nor can it be deemed or inferred that such a determination has been made.

Other important information

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will not be responsible for refunding any expenses incurred by candidates.

The admission of a person to a campaign, or an invitation to attend any element of the selection process, is not to be taken as implying that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is satisfied that such person fulfils the requirements of the competition or is not disqualified by law from holding the position and does not carry a guarantee that your application will receive further consideration. It is important, therefore, for you to note that the onus is on you to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for the competition before attending. If you do not meet these essential entry requirements but nevertheless attend for selection tests/interview(s) you will be putting yourself to unnecessary expense.

Should the person assigned to a post decline, or having accepted it, relinquish it, the Department may, at its discretion, select another person for appointment on the results of this selection process.

Code of Practice

The selection process for this competition is being carried out in accordance with the principles set out in the Code of Practice for Appointment to Positions in the Civil Service and Public Service. This Code of Practice can be accessed through the Commission for Public Service Appointments website at

The Code is also available on the Department’s eZone under Home → Personnel → Competitions → Internal Competitions → Commission for Public Service Appointments – Codes of Practice → Code of Practice for Appointment to Positions in the Civil Service and Public Service.

Information regarding review procedures is set out in Sections 7 and 8 of the above Code of Practice (two distinct procedures and mutually exclusive).

  • Section 7 review procedures apply in cases where a candidate is unhappy with an action or decision in relation to his/her candidature (but does not believe there was a breach of the Code of Practice).
  • Section 8 review procedures apply where a candidate believes that an aspect of the process breached the CPSA’s Code of Practice.

Requests for Review

Before submitting a request for review, candidates should determine which procedure is appropriate to their circumstances, ie Section 7 or Section 8. The candidate must submit their request in writing to the Office Holder, ie the Secretary General, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine at email address , clearly setting out the grounds for review and specifying the relevant Section of the Code.

Timelines for review requests are as follows

SECTION 7 Review / SECTION 8 Review
Interim stage of competition
Request for Informal Review – 2 working days after receipt of decision
Request for FormalReview – 4 working days after receipt of decision
Final stage of competition
Request for Informal Review – 5 working days after receipt of decision
Request for Formal Review – 10 working days after receipt of decision or 2 working days after notification of informal review
Request for Decision Arbitrator – 7 working days after notification of review report / Interim and Final stages of competition
Request for InformalReview – 5 working days after receipt of decision
Request for Formal Review – 2 working days after notification of decision arising from informal review or without delay where candidate does not avail of informal Review
CPSA – 10 working days after receipt of decision arising from office holder’s review

Candidates' Obligations

Candidates should note that canvassing will disqualify and will result in their exclusion from the process.

Candidates must not:

  • knowingly or recklessly provide false information
  • canvass any person with or without inducements
  • interfere with or compromise the process in any way
  • A third party must not personate a candidate at any stage of the process
  • Any person who contravenes the above provisions or who assists another person in contravening the above provisions is guilty of an offence. A person who is found guilty of an offence is liable to a fine/or imprisonment.

In addition, where a person found guilty of an offence was or is a candidate at a recruitment process, then: where he/she has not been appointed to a post, he/she will be disqualified as a candidate; and where he/she has been appointed subsequently to the recruitment process in question, he/she shall forfeit that appointment.

Specific candidate criteria

Candidates must:

  • Have the knowledge and ability to discharge the duties of the post concerned
  • Be suitable on the grounds of character
  • Be suitable in all other relevant respects for appointment to the post concerned;

And if successful, they will not be appointed to the post unless they:

  • Agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be, performed
  • Are fully competent and available to undertake, and fully capable of undertaking, the duties attached to the position.

Deeming of candidature to be withdrawn

Candidates who do not attend for interview or other test when and where required by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, or who do not, when requested, furnish such evidence as the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine require in regard to any matter relevant to their candidature, will have no further claim to consideration.

Data Protection Acts, 1988 and 2003

When a candidate application form is received, Competition & Recruitment section of the Department creates a record in the candidate’s name which contains much of the personal information the candidate has supplied. This personal record is used solely for the purpose of processing the candidate’s candidature. Should the candidate be successful certain information will be retained by the Department’s HR division. Such information held is subject to the rights and obligations set out in the Data Protection Acts, 1988 & 2003. To make a request under the Data Protection Acts 1988 & 2003, please submit your request in writing to: The Data Protection Co-Ordinator, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, ensuring that you describe the records you seek in the greatest possible detail to enable us to identify the relevant record. A fee of €6.35 should accompany your request. Payment should be made by way of bank draft, money order, or personal cheque, made payable to the ‘Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’. Certain items of information, not specific to any individual, are extracted from records for general statistical purposes.