Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 132: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the implications for the Government's decentralisation programme of the recent Labour Court ruling that promotions could not be linked to a willingness to transfer to new locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23698/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government states that the Government will continue to move ahead with decentralisation and ensure that no public servant is obliged to accept decentralisation against their wishes and that promotion opportunities remain available. It is now a matter, in the first instance, for each state body, together with its parent Department, to manage their approach to implementation of the programme, taking account of the implications of the Labour Court recommendation issued in relation to FÁS.

It has always been recognised that there were particular issues for the State bodies in progressing decentralisation at the same pace as the Civil Service because of the size and nature of the individual organisations. This point has been acknowledged by the Labour Court itself.

In relation to the Court's recommendation for the appropriate authorities to address the issues arising in the broader context of decentralisation of the non-commercial state bodies overall, I have asked my Department to engage with the unions representing staff in the State Agencies generally to establish how progress can be made on this aspect of the Labour Court recommendation. ICTU's response to an approach by my Department is awaited.

However, it is important to recognise that the Decentralisation Programme is progressing well in the Civil Service based on understandings reached with the unions representing most civil servants and this approach will be maintained. Evidence of this progress is provided by the fact that approximately 40% of all the civil service posts due to relocate are already filled. In the region of 2,000 civil and public service posts will have moved to their new locations by the end of this year.

Having examined the Labour Court Recommendation LCR 18974 I have concluded that it is firmly rooted in the context of the State Agencies and has no implications for the Decentralisation Programme in the Civil Service.