The Health Service Executive has defended a deal which gives 15,000 health administrators lifelong guarantees on their jobs.
Under the agreement, which ended industrial action by the IMPACT trade union, health managers can remain in their existing locations.
The HSE's acting head, Kevin Kelly, said the guarantees provided were normal in the public service.
Mr Kelly said the agreement provided the flexibility needed to carry out the health reforms and dealt with the anxiety of health staff concerning the scale of the changes needed.
A spokesperson for the Tanaiste, Mary Harney, said the minister welcomed the fact that the HSE was up and running and added that the agreement reached between the HSE and IMPACT ratified the Government's position that any relocation of staff be on the basis of choice and consultation.
