What are the Minister's present powers in relation to redeployment or mobility of labour within the Civil Service? The Minister has made it clear that he will not change the three in one system. Must there be an investigation carried out in each Department before staff can be redeployed?

On several occasions over the last two years the Government decided to place levies on other Departments to meet an immediate or particular need in individual Departments. The Revenue Commissioners are a case in point because, to my recollection, 104 staff were supplied to them early in 1983. The deployment of staff is exercising our minds more and more. For example, when winding down the Land Commission, it will be necessary to carry out large scale redeployment of the staff of that office. In connection with redeployment to Revenue where there are a number of departmental grades, there can sometimes be difficulty. In general we have received co-operation in the area of redeployment and it is important that that should be so. If the service is to operate is effectively as possible there has to be general recognition that from time to time activities on which personnel may have been engaged do not retain as high a priority as they might have had 20 years ago and it might, with benefit, be suggested that they be redeployed in some other area. That is the policy we are pursuing at present.