asked the Minister for Finance if he will elaborate on the representations made by Deputy Keating on behalf of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; if she can be given reasons for her treatment within the Department, as outlined in Deputy Keating's request on her behalf; and if he will make a statement on the right of employees to know basic information about themselves, in cases such as this.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employees' Rights.
11.
The officer in question was informed of her promotion prospects orally in September 1984 and September, 1985 — i.e. that she was unsuitable for promotion. She was informed in writing in October 1985 of the reason she had not been promoted prior to 1980 — the letter noted that she had been informed of her current prospects. In December 1985 the reasons for her unsuitability were fully discussed with her.
The proper course for this officer to follow is to avail of the grievance procedure which is a specific part of the structure of the Civil Service for dealing with such matters as are raised in the question. She has not done so.
An officer is entitled to information affecting his/her conduct, performance and prospects. Procedures are in place for appraisal of officers and for dealing with grievances.
Is the Minister saying that this civil servant, a middle-aged lady who worked for some decades in the Department, is entitled to a clear statement outlining why she has been passed over a number of years? She tells me she never received such a statement. In principle, I want to know if a civil servant is entitled to such information about themselves.
As I indicated in my reply, the unsuitability of this lady for promotion, in the view of her superiors, was fully discussed with her in December 1985. As I said, if she is not satisfied with that she has available an agreed grievance procedure where she can take the matter to a higher authority for determination. I do not think it is a good idea to raise matters of this kind in the House. This is not entirely consistent with the Deputy's parties espoused policy of public service reform where there is to be a greater degree of derogation of authority within the public service rather than a greater degree of centralisation of matters of this kind in the hands of Ministers.
I am naturally grateful to the Minister for his opinion about whether I should raise this matter in the House, but the point I am making is that somebody who has served long and well in a Government Department was unable to get in writing a clear statement why she was found to be not suitable for promotion when those who were trained by her were subsequently promoted. She is not interested any longer in promotion because, in her own words, her heart is broken because of the way she has been treated. She simply wants to know why she was not promoted. I want the Minister to tell me if civil servants have the right to such information about themselves in writing, not in the context of a personal chat about a matter like this.
As I said, a grievance procedure exists——
That is not what I asked.
This lady should pursue her complaint in writing through that procedure.
I am interpreting that as a negative reply
In the event that she makes a complaint, which she has not done although the Deputy has raised a matter in this House which is a rather strange inversion of normal procedure——
(Interruptions.)
It would be more appropriate at this stage rather than getting involved in posing hypothetical questions if the lady in question——
I am trying to establish the principle——
If the Deputy wants to ask general questions about this, I suggest he does so.
On a point of order, may I draw the Ministers attention to the last part of the question which reads "and if he will make a statement on the right of employees to know basic information about themselves, in cases such as this". I submit that is a general issue and I am trying to establish the right of civil servants to such data about themselves. That is all I want to know, not whether this lady is complaining about how she has been treated why she has not been treated in a manner which, in her view, would be just.
I presume the Deputy listened to my reply.
I did.
I will remind him for the third time of what I have already said.
This will be the last time.
An officer is entitled to information affecting his or her conduct, performance and prospects.
But not in writing apparently