Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the embargoes that exist in respect of full-time or part-time permanent employees of his Department to work before their career break period expires; when such embargoes commences; the persons who they apply to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16049/09]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, assuming an embargo exists on permanent part-time or full-time employees returning to work early from their career break, there is discretion in respect of exceptional cases whereby an employee in difficult circumstances may be permitted to return; the grade of employee that would make such a decision within each section of his Department or if there is a central decision-making process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16050/09]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if circulars or direct communications have been issued to staff within his Department, particularly those on career breaks, to the effect that an embargo has been introduced for those seeking to return to work early or directly after their career breaks end; if so, when such communications were issued; if they apply to those who had already commenced career breaks without knowledge of such an embargo and who might have chosen not to take such breaks at that stage had they known; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16051/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 to 194, inclusive, together.

My Department operates the Career Break Scheme in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Department of Finance Circular 18/98. No circulars or direct communications have been issued to staff within my Department regarding returning to work early from a Career Break or after a Career Break as the terms of Department of Finance Circular 18/98 continue to apply and remain unaffected by the recently announced moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the Civil Service.