Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the complaints that have been received about employment procedures at any of the newly established North-South bodies since their inception. [8809/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999, the North-South bodies may be staffed by open recruitment, temporary secondment and the transfer of staff. The bodies, with the approval of NSMC, North-South Ministerial Council, and the Finance Ministers, determine the remuneration, grading, numbers and other conditions of the chief executives and other staff of the bodies.

My Department received a formal complaint in January 2003 from a senior manager in Waterways Ireland that included allegations regarding questionable recruitment practices in relation to certain posts in that body. An investigation into this matter and related matters was jointly carried out, with the consent of the parties involved, by independent investigators appointed by the two sponsoring Departments. A copy of the summary of the findings of the joint investigation was provided for the Oireachtas Library on 4 May 2005.

I understand that a written policy on recruitment and promotions, based on best practice principles, including fairness and transparency, has since been adopted by Waterways Ireland and circulated to all staff.