Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has at her disposal any outside authority to examine or audit procedures in the personnel division of her Department; if any form of accreditation is attached to the personnel division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16084/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The personnel division in my Department, as with all Departments of State, operates under a wide range of Civil Service procedures and codes of practice. While the Department of Finance has a leading role in preparing these procedures and codes of practice and in agreeing them with Departments and staff associations at the general council, there is no other formal accreditation attached to the personnel division. In like manner, any difficulties that arise in applying the codes are discussed and resolved with the Department of Finance and staff associations.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will agree to an outside independent authority to review procedures in the personnel division of her Department relating to alleged breached of agreed procedures by the personnel authorities in particular under the grievance procedure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16085/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department adheres to the Civil Service grievance procedures when dealing with all formal grievances from staff members. The procedures allow a complainant who is dissatisfied with the outcome of an internal decision to have the matter reviewed by a mediation officer appointed by the Minister for Finance. The use of a mediation officer in the following situations is not permitted under the procedures: disciplinary action taken in accordance with the provision of the disciplinary code; selection for promotion; selection for assignment to a post carrying an allowance or to a post abroad, or for placement on higher scales of payment under restructuring agreements; exclusion from competitions or from consideration for promotion on grounds of health or sick leave record. I am satisfied that all aspects of the Civil Service grievance procedures are being adhered to in my Department.