Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding proposals to decentralise FÁS to Birr, County Offaly; if his attention has been drawn to the Labour Court recommendation (details supplied) which states that FÁS is in breach of the consultation procedures agreement; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that due to the failure of Government to recognise this recommendation, employees of FÁS have commenced industrial action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12956/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will uphold the Labour Court ruling (details supplied) in implementing decentralisation for State agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12957/06]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Finance further to newspaper comments attributed to the Minister of State for the Office of Public Works regarding the dispute between FÁS and SIPTU over decentralisation that one idea is the possibility of guaranteeing staff that a certain number of promotions will be held over for those who do not wish to decentralise; if this means that Government will ensure that some promotions are reserved for employees of FÁS that remain in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12979/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 243, 244 and 246 together.

Both the Government and I have made it clear that participation in the decentralisation programme is voluntary. From the outset, guarantees have been provided at Government level that all those employees not wishing to transfer out of Dublin will be facilitated with an alternative public service post in Dublin. This position has not changed.

In the Civil Service, progress has been made in discussions with the general service unions on issues relating to transfer protocols, promotions and arrangements for staff remaining in Dublin. Discussions are ongoing on these issues with the unions representing the professional and technical grades in the Civil Service. I hope these and other decentralisation issues arising in the State agency sector can be discussed with the relevant unions with a view to arriving at arrangements which support the decentralisation process while also meeting the concerns of staff.

In regard to FÁS, it would be helpful to refer specifically to the Labour Court ruling. In its recent recommendation in a dispute between SIPTU and FÁS concerning decentralisation and FÁS contracts of employment, the Labour Court considered the written and oral submissions of the parties. The court also noted the terms of the company-union industrial relations procedures agreement and said that it was of the opinion that FÁS was in breach of the consultation procedures provided for in that agreement. It made no ruling on the substantive issue of the relocation clause. The court recommended that the matter be referred back to the appropriate central body, at which level the issues should be teased out with a view to arriving at agreed long-term solutions, in consultation with all the parties involved.

I strongly support the full use of existing industrial relations structures by all the parties involved and believe that this represents the best way forward. It is only through dialogue that all the issues raised can be addressed. On this issue, discussions are scheduled under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission on Tuesday, 4 April.