Vol. 503 No. 7
117 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of traffic wardens working in the Dublin Corporation area regarding the fairness of their transfer to the corpor ation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11088/99]
119 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will extend the transfer date of the traffic wardens service to Dublin Corporation to allow time for further discussion. [11095/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 119 together.
I refer the Deputies to my replies to Questions Nos. 171, 181, 182, 184 and 185 which sets out the background to the decision to transfer the traffic warden service to Dublin Corporation.
Prolonged and intensive negotiations have taken place between my Department, the Garda Commissioner, Dublin Corporation and the unions, under the PCW pay agreement and joint proposals by the Commissioner, my Department and Dublin Corporation which offer the traffic wardens enhanced pay and conditions on transfer have been put to the unions. My Department is still awaiting the unions' decision to ballot on these proposals.
With regard to the date of transfer, it was anticipated that the traffic wardens would report directly to Dublin Corporation on 29 April 1999. However, as the actual administrative arrangements have yet to be completed, the Garda Commissioner and my Department have agreed that the traffic wardens will report to their respective Garda stations on that date. A letter will issue to each traffic warden shortly with regard to the final transfer arrangements.
The Labour Relations Commission has invited my Department to attend a conference to address the unions' difficulties regarding the transfer. However, I believe that all outstanding matters in so far as the Department's proposals are concerned have been resolved. Further consideration will, of course, be given to the LRC request, should the circumstances warrant it at a later stage.
