asked the Minister for the Public Service the areas of the public service where recruitment will take place in 1986; and the estimate of the number that may be recruited.
Written Answers. - Civil Service Recruitment and Dismissal.
25.
The Civil Service is the only area of the public service where I have statutory responsibility for control of numbers employed. It is expected that some 1,000 persons will be recruited to the Civil Service during 1986.
26.
asked the Minister for the Public Service if it is intended to implement the provisions of Para 7:2 of the White Paper Serving the Country Better which suggests that civil servants may be dismissed by the secretary of a Department or other nominated officer; if any discussions have been held with the public service unions on this proposed change in the employment conditions of civil servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Government have decided that the law will be changed to provide that established civil servants up to and including clerical officer level may in future be dismissed by the secretary of a Department or other nominated officer. This decision is among the subjects which were discussed recently with civil service staff interests.
As explained in the White Paper, the change arises from the fact that at present established civil servants hold their jobs under a legal provision which requires a Government decision to dismiss them — even in cases as clear-out as abandonment of post. However, many civil servants, those up to and including clerical officer level are, in practice, in the same position as employees in other organisations, even to being free to engage in politics. For them, the law will be changed to provide that they will have contracts of employment and may be dismissed by the secretary of a Department or other nominated officer. They will, of course, enjoy the protection of the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973, and the Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977.