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CONFIDENTIAL
to minimise the possibility of problems with the Irish
and Commonwealth
|
to align ourselves as closely as possible to EC "best
practice".
Neither the FCO nor the NIO think that we should underestimate the political and possible legal difficulties in a change, particularly if a large number of jobs previously open to Irish and Commonwealth Citizens are now reserved for our own
citizens. We believe that this points to the need for a consistent and tightly defined "public service" sector. In the context of the policies of our other EC partners, the FCO would see some advantage in adopting a definition of "public service" similar to that applied by the Dutch. Their system restricts posts to their own nationals in the Judiciary, Police, Military, Diplomatic Service and positions of trust (including most senior policy making levels where there is national sensitivity). If we can adopt a similar tight definition, we shall be firmly in the liberal wing of the Community, in a good position within the
EC to defend our own policy and to suggest that others come up
to the mark.
An incidental benefit is that it might enable us to remove current discrepancies between HCS and NICS practice. There are problems in this, but alignment to meet a new coherent overall policy should overcome them. A point for the NIO is that account should be taken of the stage of talks about political development before decisions are taken on when
decisions are presented in public.
A concerted approach, of
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CONFIDENTIAL