The Public Service Executive Union (PSEU) has warned that it will not tolerate its members being forced to move as part of decentralisation.
Speaking at the PSEU's annual conference at Bunratty, Co Clare, union president Patricia Tobin said "to date, the Central Applications Facility has shown that there is a significant shortfall in applications for many of the locations."
"It is this union's position that under no circumstances will we tolerate a situation whereby our members are forced to move from Dublin in order to make up this shortfall".
Ms Tobin decentralisation "the most demanding issue the union had to deal with over the past year."
However, she reminded members that the PSEU was neither for nor against decentralisation. Ms Tobin said the challenge for the PSEU is to "facilitate those wishing to decentralise while at the same time, protecting the careers of members who are to remain in Dublin".
Today the Labour Party Spokesperson on Finance, Joan Burton condemned the Government's decision to impose a 'no move, no promotion' regime on civil servant in a bid to force personnel to agree to Government decentralisation plans.
Ms Burton also accused the Minister for Finance Brian Cowen of adopting bullyboy tactics.
"Essentially the Government is demanding that some public servants chose between their careers and their families," she said.
"I have no doubt that any attempt to enforce this decision will be strongly resisted and there is a great danger that it could lead to serious industrial relations problem within the public service," Ms Burton added.
Fine Gael's Richard Burton said "the Government's desperation is starting to show as its decentralisation big bribe for the next general election is now unravelling."
"But it now seems that the low take-up among civil servants has persuaded the Government to abandon the voluntary element by forcing people who wish to be promoted to move out of Dublin. This is contrary to the spirit of the programme as announced," Mr Bruton concluded.
Yesterday the Minister for Finance, Mr Brian Cowen announced the appointment of Mr Finbarr Flood as chairman of the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG).
Mr Flood served as chairman of the Labour Court from 1998 to 2003 having previously served as Deputy Chairman of the Court.
The other members of the Decentralisation Implementation Group are:
- Ms Jane Williams, MD Sia Group
- Mr Fred Devlin, chartered surveyor
- Mr Dermot Quigley, former chairman, Revenue Commissioners
- Mr Seán Benton, Chairman, Office of Public Works
- Mr Eddie Sullivan, secretary general, PSMD, Department of Finance