Ms Geraldine Tallon:

A variety of different staff and staff groupings have moved into Irish Water. For example, a small number of staff have moved from the Department while other staff have come from local authorities and from Bord Gáis and some have been recruited through open recruitment. Staff seconded from local government or from the Department move with their existing salary and conditions. There is absolutely no change. A person recruited through an open competition, irrespective of his or her background, be that in local government or from elsewhere in the public service or the private sector, has applied under the conditions set for the post by Irish Water. There may be circumstances in which a person moving from local government by means of the competitive process into Irish Water ends up in a different place.