Coughlan 'seeking to appoint SIPTU boss to lucrative job'

Enterprise Minister Mary Coughlan is reportedly planning to appoint SIPTU's vice-president to a lucrative state job without any interview process.

Reports this morning say Ms Coughlan wants to appoint Brendan Hayes as deputy chairman of the Labour Court with a salary of around €150,000.

The move would fly in the face of a decision that the position should be filled by open competition through the Public Appointment System.

This morning's reports say the Department of Finance has objected to Ms Coughlan's plan and wants the vacancy filled from existing staff at the Labour Court.

The Government has traditionally adopted a system where the job is shared between ICTU and IBEC appointees, but former Enterprise Minister Mary Harney decided six years ago that it should be filled instead by open competition.