Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, with Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, and others. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill which will amend the Public Service Management Act 2004, removing the legislative barriers to redeployment and overall mobility within the public service. This is a positive development as it is important there be a greater degree of flexibility in terms of redeployment within our public service. It is particularly significant in the current economic climate, where there is a moratorium on recruitment. We must ensure that sufficient resources and manpower are provided to those areas of our public service which most need them. Redeployment and the ability to transfer within organisations are factors every business and organisation treat as a priority. Every corporate organisation needs flexibility which, in turn, can lead to a more satisfied and better workforce that will generate improved productivity levels. Every employee wants to see a clear career path and to know there are opportunities for promotion and career development. It is important to have flexibility within the public service so that people can move into other areas in which they may be interested.

The Bill creates opportunities for public service staff so that they need not be stuck in the same area or Department for the rest of their lives and for whom there will be other career opportunities. This is important because we are living in a changing world and are no longer in the one where there is a job for life, where one stays in the same place forever. That is a good thing because people can get stale doing the same job for years. They become demotivated which is reflected in their work and their attitude towards their job and their employers. It is important, therefore, that employees have the opportunity to transfer easily within different areas of the public service. I have no doubt that greater flexibility will lead to increased job satisfaction.

Recently I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister on the issue of certified and uncertified sick leave within our public service. It is worth noting that in 2012, €447 million was spent on sick leave in the public service. Although that figure is significantly reduced from the figure of €490 million in 2010 it still remains very high, at a cost of almost €500 million - by any standards a huge amount of money. There are many reasons for sick leave but it would be fair to say, particularly in regard to uncertified sick leave, that it may indicate a lack of job satisfaction for some staff. It is important that staff feel valued and that they can believe a better career path can be there for them, with flexibility to work in other areas in which they may have an interest.

While the core objective of the Bill is to ensure that the various areas within the public service are adequately staffed, there are benefits also for employees who are looking for a change. This type of flexibility will benefit the public service and I commend the Minister for introducing the Bill. He is obviously looking for savings - we all know there is a very difficult budget ahead. I believe there are substantial further savings to be made in the area of sick leave. Giving staff flexibility and the opportunity to start afresh in a new area will help to motivate them and alleviate some of the dissatisfaction problems.

This legislation will allow managers to identify within the entire public service people who might be better suited to jobs in other areas. I am sure there are other staff who may wish to transfer to different areas of the country for personal or family reasons; the flexibility allowed in this Bill will allow this type of movement to occur more freely. This Bill is a very positive move and I commend the Minister for introducing it.

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