Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 10:

In page 6, line 48, after "day" to insert the following:"after having first given notice within every relevant public service body and having sought suitable candidates for redeployment and having first considered, in accordance with section 57D, whether to designate any such candidate who seeks redeployment".

We may have to withdraw the amendment and raise the matter on Report Stage instead. The aim is to have some element of voluntary provision in the legislation. The idea from Croke Park I to the Haddington Road agreement has been that redeployment will first be sought on a voluntary basis. That should be established in statute, which is the idea behind the amendment. I will listen to what the Minister has to say.

As drafted, the Bill gives the Public Appointments Service the power to designate an employee of a public service for redeployment. It does not ask whether the person wants to be redeployed or whether he or she has requested it. It seems to me that it should be put into the Bill. It is part of the last two agreements and would be a sensible provision. One should look for volunteers rather than redeploy by way of the strong hand of the Public Appointments Service. The Minister is providing the service with a radical power which has not been agreed with the unions. It would be better for workplace relations if a voluntary element was provided for in statute.