Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not have the specific information with regard to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Office of the Attorney General. I can come back to the Deputy as to whether or not the couple of vacancies referred to in the general reply are in those offices.

We are not concerned here with an embargo in that it does not imply that no filling of vacancies whatsoever can take place in any circumstances as that would be the effect of an embargo. The Minister for Finance will have the authority to allow for the filling of some vacancies although in very exceptional circumstances. The Government decision provides that vacancies may also be filled by redeployment of staff from other Departments or public bodies with the sanction of the Minister for Finance. In addition, arrangements for the health and education sectors have been modulated to ensure that key services are maintained in so far as possible. The moratorium decision also applies to temporary appointments on a fixed-term basis and the renewal of such contracts. Any exceptions to this principle which will arise in very limited circumstances only require the prior sanction of the Minister for Finance which will be forthcoming only when he is satisfied that the post is essential to the delivery of a public service or performance of an essential function and that every effort has been made to fill the post by redeployment.

See this speech in context