Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like Senator Aideen Hayden, I understand from where Senator Sean D. Barrett is coming on this issue. He has been championing the cause of the need for reform of how we do business in this country and how the public services operate. The point made by Senator Aideen Hayden is one I wish to reiterate in the first days in my new position.

I have just come from the OPW's head office in Trim and I noted the level of change in management there in what must be acknowledged as an extremely difficult environment for public servants. We have had a discourse in which the public sector has been pitted against the private sector. There has been significant change, but a great deal more change is needed. I acknowledge that the reform agenda is far from finished. Public procurement, which is my new area of responsibility, is an exciting area in which we must seek to get value for the taxpayer in public projects. It is important to note that we have a Department with responsibility not only for public expenditure but for reform. The job of reform is never done, but I do not believe the way to do it is through these amendments.

In the context of these amendments, we discussed the issue of qualifications and, in particular, the qualifications of people within the Department of Finance. It is important to note that for the past few years it has been recruiting on the basis of qualifications for which there is a perceived need in the Department. Even in times of a moratorium on recruitment, when numbers in the public sector are decreasing, it is important to note that the Department of Finance has tried to recruit in the areas of economics, finance and accounting, and I am sure this is a policy that will bear fruit in the culture within our Departments.

Senator Barrett also raised the issue of appraisal of public expenditure projects. Obviously, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is responsible for this.

I will read into the record the official points that must be gone through. Prior to approval in principle of public projects, a cost benefit analysis should be submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for its views. In particular, the central expenditure evaluation unit will provide an assessment of the robustness of the appraisal based on compliance with the principles and methodological norms of the public spending code.

I accept the sentiment expressed by Senator Hayden that a significant amount of reform has taken place in our public services in very difficult circumstances. The purpose of this Bill is to make sure we have people with the right qualifications, background and experience in the agency, but we do not wish to be overly prescriptive for the reasons I outlined.