Vol. 395 No. 5
4 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Finance if he will meet a deputation from the UPTCS to discuss the problem arising from the relocation of staff from provincial postings to headquarters of the Ordnance Survey in Dublin.
I have been informed by the Commissioner of Valuation and Director of the Ordnance Survey that these matters are already the subject of ongoing discussions between management in the survey, the staff union and the individual members concerned. The procedures for resolving matters such as this are clearly laid down and are being followed. The director has assured me that he will continue to have discussions with the staff representatives, under these procedures, about the relocation in question.
(Limerick East): Will the Minister confirm that removal expenses under Circular 6/89 will be paid to Ordnance Survey staff who are re-located?
I am not going to comment good, bad, or indifferent. This is a question for management and staff unions and I am leaving it to them. There are many avenues still to be exhausted in this process. Any comments or interference by me, at this stage, would be contrary to the whole area of C and A negotiations.
(Limerick East): Very peculiar arrangements are being made. Circular 6/89 is the responsibility of the Minister and I am asking if removal expenses will be paid under the terms of that circular? Can the Minister confirm that it is the intention of his Department to remove the 120 rural based Ordnance Survey staff and re-locate them in Dublin over the next three years?
Clearly, the Deputy is having an extension of this question, it deals primarily with the meeting of a deputation.
I will not be meeting any deputations until such time as all the machinery that is available for the resolution of these problems has been exhausted and we are far from that yet.
A brief final supplementary from Deputy Noonan.
(Limerick East): Finally, I ask the Minister to take a personal interest in this matter and to brief himself fully on it because the information I have would suggest that all is not well with the operation of the procedures. I would ask him to have a personal look at the problem and not to leave it to procedures which are not working in the way in which they would normally work in the public service at present.
I will certainly make inquiries on the lines suggested by the Deputy but I would not want that to be taken as intervention in the matter at this stage.
