John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the members for their input and Mr. Fraser for his attendance. As I said, at least he attended. He did not avoid the issue. We may not have liked some of the answers we received from him but at least he accounted for himself.

Regarding the issue itself, I believe reform is necessary. His Department and the Taoiseach must drive that reform. This was not a transparent process. It has a created a major issue and damage for civil servants generally. There is a certain truth in politicians being the glove puppets of the civil servants. That is the way it appears to me. Certainly, without a head person, someone who is over the Civil Service, it is easy to see how a strong character might get his or her way. Reform is necessary. We will revisit this in due course. I thank Mr. Fraser again for his attendance.