Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am not making a technical point. If I accepted the amendment, it would fundamentally hamstring the operation of the redeployment process. My objection is not technical but fundamental. I cannot accept the amendment for that reason.

Detailed operational protocols have been negotiated with the trade union movement and set out who should be notified. The trade union movement understands the practical issue and the protocols are agreed and concern what staff should be circulated with information. The protocol also provides that certain posts should be confined to organisations closing down within a limited timeframe. That has been agreed with the trade union movement. The processes are embedded and well understood. I ask the Senator to facilitate us enacting the measure to provide for the new Haddington Road agreement so that we can have redeployment, protect employment and have no compulsory redundancies, leading to a more efficient public service.