Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of a matter (details supplied) he will respond in full and confirm affirmatively or in the negative whether any such agreement was entered into by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17266/08]

Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 544: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the matter (details supplied) he will confirm affirmatively or in the negative whether any such agreement was entered into by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17879/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 504 and 544 together.

I am fully supportive of Government policy in relation to decentralisation and of the mechanisms promulgated by the Department of Finance (following consultation with representative bodies) which are in place to give effect to it.

As my predecessor has indicated previously, the filling of sanctioned vacancies is handled at official level. I am informed that the Department of Finance has advised Offices and Departments, including my own, that they can have discussions with persons interested in bilateral transfer to ensure that they understand fully the nature of the any post and that there is a shared understanding of the expectations of the job. However my Department's approval was not required for the approach that was taken in the case to which the Deputy refers. This was entirely a matter between the Ombudsman Commission and the Department of Finance, which is the Department responsible for the management of the Dublin Arrangements.

My understanding is that Garda Síochána Ombudsman has postponed the filling of the post in question for the present consequent on an ongoing staffing review related to the long term needs and structures of the office.