Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will not pursue it any further. I fully understand there are protocols in respect of redeployment and I fully understand the Croke Park agreement and the Haddington Road agreement. Although I will not pursue it, I do not understand why the Minister cannot provide a statutory basis for some element of voluntary selection or volunteerism, as is the practice. Why would the Minister not put the practice into law in a generalised way in order to operate in an efficient way that does not hamstring the redeployment process? No one is arguing against redeployment but the Bill provides the Public Appointments Service with substantially more power than in the agreement. I am prepared to withdraw the amendment but I may resubmit it on Report Stage. I would like the Minister to think about this point, which is reasonable.