Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I would not agree there has been no progress whatsoever with State agencies. There has been some, but it has been slow. One of the reasons for the slow pace is the industrial relations issue outlined by the Deputy, which was only recently resolved in the context of a Labour Court recommendation between FÁS and SIPTU, when the issue arose in connection with FÁS.

With regard to the Revenue move to Kildare town, as the Deputy knows, the idea is to move headquarters, including ICT facilities, to various locations. The issue in this case was that the ICT unit was to be moved to Kildare town, while maintaining Revenue headquarters and staff in Dublin. The Revenue Commission brought this to my attention. It has been very successful in all its decentralisation processes to date and all its previous moves worked well. It is one of the best examples of what can be achieved with determination and good will to proceed. I was prepared to listen to the case put forward by the Revenue Commission, on the basis of an alternative mix, which would see up to 380 personnel move to the town concerned.

With regard to State agencies, the Labour Court now suggests that the appropriate authorities, which include people in my Department, the public service with responsibility for moving forward the process, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, stakeholders, partners and the social partnerships, should consider the situation of State agencies generally, rather than segment each State agency to see how decentralisation can be brought about for it in isolation from the other agencies. The full range of infrastructural capabilities existing within the State agencies concerned should be considered. I believe this is a sensible approach.

The decentralisation implementation group has been suggesting this position. The problem was that we could not engage on the issue because of the outstanding industrial relations issue, which was before the Labour Court and the Labour Relations Commission over the past months and years. That issue has been resolved and certainty has been provided to staff that nobody will be asked to move involuntarily and alternative career opportunities will be offered to those who do not wish to move. The only way we can advance beyond this is by taking up the second part of the recommendation of the Labour Court, which is to enable a discussion to take place that would examine everything taken together. Having written to congress and with congress meeting in executive committee, I am sure it will come back to me as soon as possible with suggestions as to how we can start that engagement, which I regret has not started already.

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