Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will have regular reviews to see how we are getting on and we can drill into the figures at that stage.

I want to raise again the national lottery issue with Mr. Watt and in doing so I take account of the sensitivity around the fact an announcement is imminent. Mr. Watt will be aware that a number of staff were An Post employees on permanent secondment. As I am sure Mr. Watt is aware, I have raised the matter on several occasions with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin. He had sought to assure me that there were conversations and consultations with staff, and he said that the welfare, transfer and safeguarding of lottery personnel must and will be encompassed in the whole process. In other words he gave a fairly all-encompassing commitment. It subsequently transpires that there have been discussions. However, the status of these employees as An Post employees who have been seconded has not been taken account of. I ask Mr. Watt to comment on that and on my understanding that no provision was made for a return to An Post for those employees who may have wished to make that choice and that, subsequent to the LRC discussions, the agreement is not to be put to a ballot of staff.