In a surprise decision issued last week, the Labour Court recommended that 45 scientists working in the Marine Institute be paid 3,750 each to cover the relocation costs of moving from Abbotstown, Dublin, to Galway. This runs counter to Finance's policy of not compensating public servants who move voluntarily.

Opposing the scientists' claim, the Marine Institute said it was "precluded by explicit Government policy from conceding this claim".

"As the move was voluntary, any concession of this claim would have potential repercussions for the decentralisation moves (about 10,900 people are due to move) which are also voluntary, " argued the Institute, which operates under Noel Dempsey's Department of Transport and Marine.

The Institute had previously explained to its scientists, members of the Impact union who initially looked for 7,500 each, that Finance had "refused all approaches from the Institute, the Department and the minister for the provision of relocation/removal expenses, as per public norms, in the context of the Institute's move and the broader decentralisation process for Government services."

But the deputy chairman of the Labour Court, Raymond McGee, said he was satisfied that the Institute's move from Dublin to Galway was mooted before the Government announced its decentralisation plans in December 2003.

The move to Galway could, therefore, be "distinguished" from the decentralisationpolicy and staff should each be compensated by 3,750.