Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have not avoided it because we have dealt with this previously. I agree with the thrust of what the Deputy has said which is that people who have decent pensions should not come back and displace people who are looking for public service contracts of employment. By and large that should be and is the situation. However, there will be exceptional cases, either through an agency or a direct employment on a short-term basis, where a particular skillset is required which is not available except by rehiring somebody. That can arise, as the Deputy knows.

A unique set of circumstances pertains to Irish Water where a new public utility is being created and people were asked to migrate from the local government sector into it. Certain benefits to them arose to ensure the smooth transition and the smooth creation of what will be one of the most important public companies to be created in the State.

I understand the agency point the Deputy makes. However, all citizens have natural rights and it is not possible simply to debar people from employment, even on a temporary basis because they have worked previously in the public sector. It is possible to do that by way of writing a voluntary deal into the agreement and that is what we have done. As a general rule we need to be careful not to trample on people's constitutional and natural rights.

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