Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The advice from the Attorney General is that I do not have the power, and neither would the Deputy if he were the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. I am quite happy to take the advice. To answer that Deputy's question, the advice is not the only reason. I have said before and say again for the record that I am satisfied the board of the CIB, which made its important decision in February 2017, did so in the best interest of the citizens it serves. The CIB established an advisory group to assist with the transition to the new governance models. Information sessions have been held for the chairpersons of the local services, providing opportunities for them to seek clarification on the process of transfers to the new regional companies and the winding up of the existing companies.

The CIB has assured me, as it has assured all its clients, members and the Committee on Social Protection, that there will be no job losses, diminution of existing services or closures of services. Most important, there will be no disruption to services. The rationale for CIB's decision is to improve governance arrangements in accordance with the code of practice on the governance of State bodies and to meet the requirements of the Comptroller and Auditor General, which it absolutely has to meet.

The six new regional companies were established on 16 April 2018, in north Leinster, south Munster and south Dublin. The recruitment of the directors for these new regional companies is complete. Approximately half of the positions have been filled by applicants who served as local company board members. Regional managers have also been appointed. Two of the appointees were formerly employed by MABS companies.

Unite, the union, has confirmed to me that its members in MABS companies had voted in favour of the transfer in their recent ballot. SIPTU had previously confirmed the same for all its members in citizens information services. I cannot stress enough how thorough the process has been. One will never make 100% of people happy but the vast majority of people are happy.

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