Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The week after next we will have a full debate on Irish Water. I wish to inform the Deputy, as he might not be aware, that we have given a commitment as part of the framework agreement that there is no compulsory transfer of any council staff in any local authority to Irish Water. We are creating a single, publicly owned utility. We have had very good engagement with all of the unions. I met them again last week. We are advancing on that. Any worker who does not wish to transfer will not be transferred. There will be many opportunities for job advancement, career advancement and training within Irish Water as well. The week after next, however, we will have that full debate. It is important that the Deputy is aware, and for his own constituents and for anyone working in water services in the local authority, that if for whatever reason it does not suit them or they do not wish to transfer, there will be no compulsory transfers. That is actually in the framework agreement, which has been published.

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