Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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195. To ask the Minister for Finance the proposals put forward as part of the State's bid to host the European Banking Authority to ensure the retention of specialised staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39869/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The procedure agreed by the European Council for the relocation of the European Agencies currently located in London, the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Medicines Authority (EMA), stresses that the business continuity of the two Agencies is vital and must be ensured.

Business continuity is one of the six essential criteria in the relocation selection process and concerns among other things the ability to allow the EBA to maintain their expert staff and to attract highly qualified staff from the relevant sectors, in case not all current staff should choose to relocate. It also concerns the capacity to ensure a smooth transition to the new location and to guarantee continued operation of the Authority which should remain operational during the transition.   

Ireland’s bid to host the EBA sets out how a relocation to Dublin offers the least disruptive move for the Authority, its staff and their families, and outlines the factors which make Dublin the best location to ensure the greatest retention of EBA staff.

The proximity of Dublin to London, geographically, culturally, and linguistically, would make the relocation to Dublin less demanding for the specialised staff of the Authority than a move to other potential locations, thus encouraging retention of staff.

Ireland is also well placed to provide employment opportunities for spouses and partners of EBA staff, with a well-established financial services centre, and diverse economy which is home to a large number of well-known foreign and domestic multinationals. In addition, Ireland's diversified financial services centre provides a large pool of highly qualified staff that can be used to replace those EBA staff that choose not to move from London.

As a sign of Ireland’s commitment to the EBA staff, who are facing significant disruptions and uncertainty due to the move from London in a relatively short timeframe, the offer proposes financial and organisational commitments to assist in relocation.

This includes support from Government Departments and their agencies, along with financial contributions for the Authority and its staff, which seek to make the move from the United Kingdom as smooth as possible.

In the event of Dublin being chosen as the location for the EBA, a Relocation Group will be formed, to support the smooth transition to Dublin. The Group will involve officials from the Department of Finance, other relevant Government Departments and State agencies. The remit of this group will include ensuring the Headquarters Agreement between Ireland and the EBA is in place prior to its move to Dublin. The Agreement will include all the conditions offered by Ireland to the EBA and its staff.

In terms of education facilities for the children of EBA staff, the Department of Education and Skills will provide services of an appropriate nature which may include mother-tongue tuition and/or European Baccalaureate provision.

The Department of Social Protection will also provide support to EBA staff with social welfare matters and EURES Ireland (the Irish branch of the European Employment Services Network, managed by the Department of Social Protection) will offer a dedicated point of contact to provide information and support on working and living conditions in Ireland to the Authority staff, spouses and their dependants.

In addition to these supports, Ireland proposes an offer of up to €1m towards the provision of professional relocation services for the EBA staff and their families. It is intended that a private company would be sourced, following a tender process, to provide such a service.

The financial part of the support package outlined in Ireland’s bid will only become payable in the event that Dublin is chosen as the location to host the EBA.