Vol. 476 No. 5
265 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the implications, if any, of the job shedding by Telecom Éireann for the State in relation to the commitments given in the Postal and Telecommunications Act 1983 which gives job security guarantees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7648/97]
I assume that the Deputy is referring to the early retirement and voluntary severance schemes operated by Telecom Éireann since 1984. The latest such scheme was launched by the company on 3 March 1997 and I gave a detailed reply to the Deputy on a related question on 12 March 1997.
The board of Telecome Éireann are committed to achieving reductions in staffing levels on the basis of agreement and staff who avail of the schemes currently on offer will do so on a voluntary basis as they have done since 1984. I therefore see no new implications for the State, nor for the staff of Telecom Éireann, in the context of the conditions of employment referred to in section 45 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983.
