The union representing almost half the staff of the Legal Aid Board has stated that most of its members will not be moving to Cahirciveen, Co Kerry, under a decentralisation move proposed by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue.
The Public Service Executive Union (PSEU) represents more than 20 middle managers at the board and is attempting to have the decision overturned. The Legal Aid Board headquarters is in St Stephen's Green, Dublin.
The deputy general secretary, Mr Tom McKevitt, said the union had "a number of difficulties" with the decision, including the lack of consultation with staff beforehand.
He said a statement by Mr O'Donoghue that "you could operate this office from the moon" was regarded as "offensive". "Such a statement did not have regard to their experience or expertise," said Mr McKevitt.
He said the move took no account of the "huge loss of expertise which will be involved" if few existing staff transfer. "Dealing with legal aid applications is a complex business and not one in which the skills involved can be easily transferred by a few weeks training." He added the move could prove difficult and expensive for the board and the Government. "There is likely to be considerable added expense in travel and subsistence costs alone in bringing people to meetings between Dublin and Cahirciveen," he said.
He said the union had supported pervious decentralisations, but could not support this one because of the lack of consultation.
Mr McKevitt said he would shortly be meeting the board's management to discuss the move and would then meet Mr O'Donoghue. Management of the Legal Aid Board is preparing a report for the Minister which is expected to come out against the move.
A spokesman for Mr O'Donoghue said moving to Cahirciveen was a Government decision and could not be reversed. However, negotiations with the unions on details of the move would be undertaken in the next few weeks. "It must be made clear that no one will be forced to go," he said.