No, minister: civil servants' fury at 'three year' plan
As Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Minister responsible for decentralisation, Tom Parlon, defended the Government's plan yesterday, the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPS) accused them of using the civil service as a political pawn.
Angered by comments from Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy that a failure to decentralise within three years would be a catastrophe for the Government's election prospects, AHCPS general secretary Sean O'Riordan said the public service was not the Government's property.
"No Government, no political party owns the civil service," he said
"We believe the deadline should be determined by what's in the public interest and not by party political imperatives," he continued.
Gerry Kirk, a principle officer with the Revenue Commissioners, said decentralisation should not be about politics.
"It should be about delivering quality service. We are very supportive of the idea of decentralisation but not in this timeframe," he said.
The AHCPS is not against decentralisation but believes a 15-year time frame is required to see the plan properly implemented.
And as members voted in favour of strike yesterday some delegates accused the Government of reneging on social partnership.
Pat Dowling, a senior civil servant in the Department of Education said social dialogue did not appear to apply to the public service.
"We are all lectured by the Taoiseach and others about the importance of partnership but when one looks at this proposal we find partnership has gone out the window. Obviously social dialogue does not extend to civil service unions," he said.
Any strike by the 3,000-strong union would likely bring the entire public service to a complete standstill as members are largely responsible for running all Government departments and agencies.
An AHCPS report, published yesterday, found the Government will fail to get enough volunteers to fill its target of 10,300 relocated civil service jobs in 53 rural locations. So far volunteers comprise just 20% of total requirements.
The report also warns that the need to recruit afresh will result in a huge brain drain from the civil service in addition to a diminished capability and reduced service to the public.
Fine Gael deputy leader and finance spokesman Richard Bruton accused Mr McCreevy of conning his way to election votes.
"Having bought the last general election through massive public spending, Minister McCreevy is trying to repeat the trick by hijacking decentralisation for his next election con job," he said.
Mr Ahern, defended the Government's policy saying it was good for Dublin and good for the country.
Mr Ahern said he understood the concerns of some of the civil servants, but reassured staff that no one would be forced to move and the Government would negotiate with the officials.
Mr Parlon, who has already been widely accused of seeking political gain from the Government's plan, denied there were political motives at play.
"It isn't for the benefit of a party or the benefit of Dublin or any particular civil service department. I believe this is for the benefit of the whole country," he said.
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