Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are trying to tease out where there are quick wins. The likes of the IT systems need to be changed, and that is going to take longer, but those 28 steps could be cut pretty quickly. That is the basis of the question.

On recruitment and retention, other jurisdictions are in competition. We know it is a global marketplace now, the price of flights is cheaper, it is easier to get to places, and all that has a knock-on effect. What are the top barriers outside of pay that are stopping people from coming back? Let us put pay aside. I know from my own background in recruitment that pay is a very important factor, but it may not be what stops people from coming back. We cannot compete with Australia because Australia has natural resources and can pay people more out of those natural resources than it sells. It is the same with the Middle East. We are trying to find the other, softer sides outside of pay where we might be able to compete. We discussed car insurance before and there is the price of rent and all those things. Has the Public Service Pay Commission identified what might be the top barrier? I am trying to ascertain quick wins in how we market to our graduates and to our emigrants.