Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 November 2014
236. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will detail the process of appointment for the Irish Water consultative group; if he will publish the final recommendations of this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43681/14]
View answerThe Irish Water Consultative Group was established to facilitate engagement with the Unions and staff on the roll-out of the Water Sector Reform Implementation Strategy , and had its inaugural meeting in September 2012. This joint union/management group was established , with Mr. Kevin Foley of the Labour Relations Commission as an independent chair , to provide a mechanism for regular structured dialogue, consultation and engagement on issues arising from the implementation strategy. Membership of the group comprises representatives of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government; the County and City Management Association; the Local Government Management Agency; the Water Services Transition Office, Irish Water; and ICTU and affiliated unions.
The group meets regularly to work through the issues concerned and has, inter alia, agreed principles for the secondment of local authority staff to the Irish Water programme; agreed the Framework for Service Level Agreements , which is available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie; and addressed issues such as the protection of the terms and conditions of employees in various circumstances. As the work of the group is ongoing there are no proposals to publish any final recommendations.
