Vol. 550 No. 4
361 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the practice of certain voluntary hospitals of maintaining clerical staff and other staff on a long-term temporary basis with successive renewals of temporary employment rather than an offer of permanent employment; and if he will make a statement on this practice. [8537/02]
Responsibility for contractual terms and conditions of employment including whether a post is designated as temporary or permanent rests with the employing health agency. In line with best employment practice my Department's position is that temporary posts in the health service should be kept to a minimum, subject to short-term service requirements and identified need for flexibility in certain instances.
