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Latest Developments on Decentralisation

SIPTU representatives to consider Finance Minister’s comments on Labour Court ruling in the decentralisation dispute at meeting next week

Date Released: 30 Aug 2007

SIPTU workplace representatives in the 16 non-commercial semi-state agencies where it organises the employees are to meet next Thursday, September 6th, to consider the implications of the Labour Court recommendation in the FÁS dispute.

Earlier today the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, said that he accepted the Labour Court ruling and its wider implications that decentralisation must be voluntary. He added that the ruling reflected concerns raised by the Government’s own Decentralisation Implementation Group.

The union’s Dublin Regional Secretary Patricia King, who represents almost 1,600 SIPTU members in all the agencies concerned said, “I acknowledge the Minister’s acceptance of the Labour Court in relation to FÁS. This is a positive step towards resolving the problem.

“I will be meeting with SIPTU representatives from FÁS and all the other agencies affected by decentralisation next Thursday. I do not wish to comment further on the substantive issues until we have had the opportunity to consult with the members.

“However, what I can say is that we do see the outcome of the FÁS dispute as a vindication of the campaign we have conducted against decentralisation of these highly specialised agencies over the past 18 months. No operational rationale has ever been produced to justify such a potentially disruptive plan and expensive proposal for the taxpayer.”





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