Vol. 477 No. 2
9 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the concern of the IMPACT trade union at the placing by his Department of advertisements for new management posts at the National Museum while negotiations were ongoing; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the union considers this a breach of trust; and whether it is over 15 years since the last normal promotion at the National Museum. [9044/97]
I am aware of the contents of IMPACT's advertisement and press release relating to the six new management posts currently being filled in the National Museum of Ireland. My Department issued a press release on 27 February 1997 in response to IMPACT's statement which set out my Department's position and also addressed most of the specific issues now raised by the Deputy.
Referring to the six contract posts to be filled in the National Museum of Ireland — Head of Services, Head of Conservation, Head of Marketing, Registrar and IT Manager, Education and Community Outreach Officer, and Accommodation, Security and House Manager — my Department's statement pointed out that these posts are additional to the existing staff complement. It acknowledged that it has long been recognised that the National Museum's organisation and staffing needed to be strengthened. A number of recommendations, including recommendations for new posts for key areas, were made to my Department. Following formal approval for the posts now advertised, my Department had detailed and prolonged discussions with IMPACT and made many changes in relation to the duties involved.
Despite the constructive nature of much of the discussions, full agreement could not be reached as IMPACT's final agreement to the actual placing of the advertisement was subject to certain conditions about other museum posts, to which my Department was not in a position to agree. At that point it was clear that further progress could not be made. Given the critical staff needs of the museum in the areas in question, my Department was left with the choice of proceeding with the recruitment or deferring the filling of such posts indefinitely.
As stated in its press release, my Department remains, as always, committed to free and open discussions with IMPACT. It very much regrets the decision of technical and professional staff of the National Museum, who have given committed service in often difficult circumstances, not to co-operate with appointees to the posts advertised, and is convinced that such a course of action is not in the best interest of the development of the National Museum.
The Deputy will appreciate that substantive promotions in the National Museum, as in any area of the Civil Service, can only be made where a fillable vacant post exists. Due to the relatively small promotion pool for professional and technical grades in the National Museum such vacancies seldom arise. However, where it is evident that an officer in the National Museum is carrying out duties above his or her grade, my Department has endeavoured to address such situations by way of temporary higher-duty allowances or ex gratia payments, which are the only alternatives where permanent promotions are not possible or appropriate. As a result, a number of professional staff in particular are in receipt of such payments. There is a valid, sustainable reason substantive promotion was not appropriate or possible in each case where such temporary payments have been made — a point which has been repeatedly stressed by my Department in our discussions with IMPACT.
My Department is in consultation with the Department of Finance with a view to having some posts at present in receipt of higher duty allowances filled on a substantive basis.
Tá an t-am istigh do cheisteanna tosaíochta agus is féidir iad a phlé mar cheisteanna eile.
Will the Minister of State accept the fact that the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht advertised the positions in national newspapers, before the completion of consultations and negotiations on the vacancies with the union IMPACT, was inappropriate and anything but helpful? Will he agree that this is not the true definition of consultation? Will he also agree that a bit more sensitivity could have been expected from the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht in dealing with this matter, given that one of his close advisers was a former trade union official? Will the Minister of State also accept that it is over 15 years since the last normal promotion was made at the museum? Four curatorial departments are without keepers, some since 1988, and half the museum's curatorial staff are in acting positions or receiving ex gratia payments in lieu of substantive promotions. The Minister of State referred to this in his reply but does he feel this is a satisfactory situation and, if not, what does he propose to do to alleviate the position?
I understand that discussions are still ongoing with IMPACT. As I said in my reply, it is also in discussion with the Department of Finance with regard to having some posts, at present in receipt of higher duty allowances, filled on a substantive basis. I said that on the first occasion. The Department felt there was a constructive nature to the discussions but they could not be concluded because IMPACT's final agreement to the actual placing of an advertisement was subject to conditions about other museum posts. Unless the Department receives the agreement of the Department of Finance to have some of these posts, which are at present in receipt of higher duty allowances, filled on a substantive basis, there is a deadlock. There are ongoing discussions on this matter and I expect it will be resolved fairly quickly.
Will the Minister of State agree that the nub of this issue is that the jobs were advertised by the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht before consultations with the union were completed? Will he also accept that this is yet another example of how cultural institutions have been treated shabbily by this Government? They are obviously not a priority with the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
Whichever Government Deputy de Valera is talking about, either the current or previous Governments——
The Government of the Minister of State.
Earlier, the Deputy herself spoke about these people having been in this position for 15 or 16 years, so I do not have to calculate historically over the last 15 or 16 years to remind her who was in power. This matter has been continuing for some time.
The Minister of State was there on a number of occasions.
I am satisfied discussions are taking place, even as late as yesterday, and that this matter will be amicably resolved through dialogue. All parties realise that difficult decisions must be taken.
