Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

No, I do not agree with that and past experience would confirm that it would not work. There have to be controls and a policy laid out. It is the job of Departments and agencies to support and implement the policy. When we talk about exceptional circumstances, that does not mean that every time a vacancy comes up a case is made to keep it. The policy is implemented. This means that in the vast majority of cases people will not be reassigned or replaced. Cases are not being made for people to be kept on when the policy is that they should not be. There is no need for a bureaucratic mist to descend, it is a question of implementing the policy. That is the simple answer to the Deputy's questions.

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