Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on the Department of the Taoiseach
Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 4 - Central Statistics Office (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Revised)
3:00 pm
Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
I thank the Taoiseach for the comprehensive outline he gave us today and I compliment him on the Action Plan for Jobs, which has been working very successfully over the past few years. He mentioned Leader funding. I hope this funding comes fairly quickly because it is badly wanted. I would hate there to be a view that rural Ireland is somewhat behind. Things have never been so optimistic in rural Ireland. As the Taoiseach is aware from his visit to Mitchelstown, there have been huge developments in construction in the area. It is fabulous to see it. People who say rural Ireland is going backwards need to put their finger on the pulse.
The Taoiseach mentioned ten posts for Irish staff in the European Commission and other institutions. Was this due to the recent Presidency? What skills are these people bringing to the posts? What does the Taoiseach feel their roles should be? Are these people liaising with MEPs and the Commissioner?
How is the Civil Service renewal plan progressing? When does the Taoiseach feel it will reach completion?
I have one further small point. There are 16% fewer staff in the Office of the Attorney General. Travel expenses have dropped hugely, by 42%. Its contract legal expertise costs are down by 4%. Has this been compensated for in-house? It was curious to see this figure was down.
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