Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
217. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Finance his plans for the Central Bank's print works in Sandyford; the timeframe proposed for its possible closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15016/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra229. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his plans to prevent the closure of the Central Bank's print works in Sandyford in order to protect jobs and due to its strategic importance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15236/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra239. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank has considered plans to review the operation of the mint in Sandyford. [15449/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra254. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Finance if he will intervene with the Central Bank to ensure that the bank's print works in Sandyford, County Dublin, are retained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15906/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 217, 229, 239 and 254 together.
Firstly, I wish to make clear that decisions on the Central Bank's print works and the fulfilment of its Eurosystem obligations for provision of its quota of banknotes are a matter for the Central Bank, which is statutorily independent under national legislation and EU treaties.
I am advised by the Central Bank that the Commission has accepted a management recommendation that, in the absence of a viable alternative proposal, the Central Bank of Ireland should cease printing new euro banknotes and instead fulfil its Eurosystem obligations for provision of its quota of banknotes by sourcing them from a suitable third party in the euro area. The decision is made within the context that both the Central Bank and SIPTU agreed to attend the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on Monday 16 April, and the Central Bank will not take any immediate steps to implement this proposal to allow time for a Workplace Relations Commission process. The cessation of the printing of banknotes by the Central Bank of Ireland will have no impact on the supply of banknotes in Ireland, as the majority of banknotes used in Ireland are already produced elsewhere.
This proposal to source banknotes from a third party in the euro area is in line with the approach taken by many other national central banks. The proposal includes the retention of a specialist team of technically competent staff, which will ensure the Bank can continue to meet its Eurosystem obligations and contribute to the design and sourcing of banknotes. There will be no impact on the production of Irish euro coins or the supply of cash to the national cash cycle, and the Central Bank’s Currency Centre will continue to provide services such as coinage, circulated banknote processing and related operations.
The Central Bank has been engaging with impacted staff and their representative union on these matters. The Central Bank is committed to continuing this engagement and, with the agreement of SIPTU, has entered into a Workplace Relations Commission process with the representative union. The Central Bank is not seeking redundancies and is confident that any staff directly impacted by these proposals can be redeployed into other roles. Directly impacted staff who wish to leave the Central Bank would be offered voluntary severance.
As I have stated both the Central Bank and SIPTU have entered into a Workplace Relations Commission process on the matter where the issue will be discussed in a robust and meaningful way. We will allow this process to proceed and await the outcome.
