A union has threatened widespread industrial action in the public service if the Government attempts to force its decentralisation programme on specialist and technical staff.
Amicus, which represents specialist and professional staff in a number of semi-State agencies, said the programme as planned could cause acute difficulties for its members.
If relocations were not carried out on a voluntary basis, "there could be widespread industrial unrest", it warned. Agencies where the union has members include the National Standards Authority of Ireland, which is to be moved to Arklow, Co Wicklow, and Enterprise Ireland, which is to have 300 staff moved to Shannon, Co Clare.
Mr Jerry Shanahan, the union's deputy secretary, said the transfer of specialist, technical staff gave rise to different issues than applied to the transfer of employees in the civil service generally.
"In the main, job specifications can be similar across different Government departments and transfers between departments are not uncommon," he said.
However, proposals to transfer specialist functions, where those currently in the posts chose not to transfer, could cause serious difficulties for the agencies employing them.
It might not be possible, according to Mr Shanahan, to find people with the requisite qualifications and experience. It might also prove impossible to find a post suited to a person who chose not to transfer.
"Such difficulties are likely to be particularly acute in agencies such as the NSAI, where the proposal is that the entire agency would be relocated."
Mr Shanahan said Amicus would insist on the commitment given by the Government that all transfers be voluntary.
It would also demand that suitable positions be found both for those willing to relocate and those choosing not to.