John Crown (Independent)

While listening to a radio interview the other evening I heard the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, in somewhat of a Freudian slip, refer to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as the Minister for Howlin. I must admit that I am howling now myself about something that has been brought to my attention. At a time when we are undergoing a public service embargo, when there are cutbacks in every part of the health service and social services, when there are hiring freezes to replace people who have taken Government incentivised early retirement and there is real danger that critical parts of the lubrication of our social democracy may be gunged up by a shortage of front-line workers, the Public Appointments Service has been for several days advertising for temporary clerical worker positions at a modest salary which is just shy of €20,000 per annum. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to clarify the scale of priorities. At a time of shortage with regard to doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, lengthening waiting lists for elective health care procedures, a deliberate policy of restricting access to medical cards by a number of bureaucratic manoeuvres based around complications in the renewal process - which I know the Minister is addressing - and when it is generally recognised that we have a super abundance of bureaucratic staff in the HSE and health service who are in their jobs because of a failure to rationalise on the integration of pre-existing health boards into a solitary state bureaucracy, rather than redeploying people to areas where they are clearly needed, these temporary positions are being advertised.

The average tax take per citizen is €7,650. This means that the entire income tax of three people will be used to support these new temporary positions. This is unsatisfactory. It speaks to a failure to come to grips with the need to reform our public service. I ask that the Leader bring this matter to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Howlin.