Vol. 533 No. 2
89 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance the agreement he has reached with the Civil and Public Service Union on the criteria the union considers should be used by Government to identify decentralised locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8516/01]
A joint working group representing the General Council and Joint Industrial Council Unions and the official side was formed in September 2000 to advise on the development of criteria for the next stage of decentralisation and to report by 31 October 2000. The formation of the working group was designed to give the unions the opportunity to make an input in relation to issues such as who is to go, where are they to go and when do they go. In particular, it was formed to allow them put forward views on the criteria which might be used in arriving at these decisions, including the decisions on the choice of locations. The official side considered that it would not be appropriate that the merits or demerits of particular locations should be discussed as part of the process.
The group met on four occasions between 6 October and 27 November 2000. At the final meeting of the group, most of the unions indicated that they were no longer prepared to participate in the work of the group due to dissatisfaction on their part at the official side's not being prepared to conduct a survey of the unions' members to establish their preferences as regards locations. The official side did not consider that it was appropriate or necessary for them to survey the members of the unions to establish their preferences as regards locations. The official side took the view that the appropriate way to proceed was to agree on the criteria which might be used by the Government when deciding locations. The Civil and Public Service Union indicated at the final meeting of the group that it could bring the matter of the criteria to a conclusion and would convey its views direct to the official side. These views were subsequently conveyed and full account will be taken of them when final decisions are being taken by the Government.
