Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's final statement, about his intention to raise with his Northern Ireland counterpart the question of whether what was agreed is working in practice, was the best part of his reply. As I said at the outset, it is not working in practice. Just one member relocated in each of the years 2009-10 and 2012-13. Why is this not working in practice? There is a financial disincentive. As Maurice Hayes said ten years ago, "People will not take up positions" in such circumstances. That is one thing. When the Minister referred to the uncertainty about having one's job guaranteed if one wishes to come back into the force, he said one must be able to show that the experience gained outside the force will be "of benefit to the force in the future". I suppose there is a degree of uncertainty there. The Minister also mentioned that when applications were received, no member of the PSNI took up the possibility of transferring down here for the purposes of promotion. All I will say is that it is not working. Actions speak louder than words. The Minister might think it is working, given that one member transferred in each of 2009 and 2012, but I do not think it is. It is definitely not what was envisaged. I hope the Minister will encourage it. I thank him for-----