Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Does the Minister believe Enterprise Ireland can continue to deliver its services if less than 5% of its staffing is willing to move to the new location? The same proportion applies across all the agencies — less than 5% willing to move with their services. Is the Minister stating that these boards guarantee that they can continue to deliver services in the new locations despite losing up to 95% of their staff, with the result that he must fill vacancies or achieve new recruits for those vast gaps that are opening up?

Is he satisfied that there will not be losses of critical skills? In reply to a parliamentary question of mine, he indicated that of nearly 300 key specialist skills staff in these agencies, less than 25 are willing to move. I ask the Minister to explain to the House how these agencies can continue to deliver services if there is such a degree of meltdown in their critical areas of expertise. In his reply, the Minister did not mention how he thought they could deliver a quality service without these critical staff and that is a critical issue.

As the Minister responsible, what offer will he make to the members of staff who opt to remain in Dublin, as is their right? What is he saying to the staff in Enterprise Ireland, in the Health and Safety Authority, in the national standards authority or in FÁS? What options do they have if they opt to stay in Dublin but their body, their employer with whom they have a contract, moves out?

See this speech in context