No, I want to raise a number of matters on the Money Resolution. I do not know whether the Minister is in a position to say what the cost of the Bill will be or how much is involved. As I mentioned on the Second Stage, a private Deputy moving amendments to this Bill could expect to find that they would be out of order and although I have tabled a number of amendments, they are out of order because they would, if accepted, involve a charge on public funds. It is for that reason that I want to raise certain matters at this stage. The aim of this Bill, so far as one can see any definite objective in it, is to enable a greater degree of mobility to be operated so far as the State or semi-State servants are concerned. That idea is generally welcomed as it has advantages from the point of view either of the State or of State or semi-State companies.
At the same time, the House is entitled to some information about the actual policy behind the decision because in some cases it would appear that an arbitrary selection is being made of particular officers, particular companies, undertakings or appointments in the Civil Service. Therefore, I am anxious to find out what will be the actual cost of this measure because if the principle is accepted that so far as it is consistent with efficient and satisfactory administration of the Civil Service, or the efficient and economic running of State companies, there is a good case for making appointments as mobile as possible, then if the transfer of an officer or official is approved as being in the interests of the service, it should be facilitated.
It is difficult, because of the wide range of positions covered and affected by this Bill, not to refer to individual cases. As we proceed, certain individual cases may come to mind. At this stage I will confine myself merely to suggesting that the Minister should indicate the policy behind it and if the same criterion will apply to all positions where, say, the Civil Service are satisfied that it would be in the interest of efficient administration, and in the case of State companies where similar standards would apply. If one person is entitled to added years for pension purposes for service, on the one hand, with the Civil Service and, subsequently, say, with a State company, if there are any cases where a person is employed in one branch of the public service and is transferred to another, then the service should count.