Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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We have too many managers involved in transactional aspects of human resources. In Clonskeagh we will move to an open plan office where all the human resource transactions will be dealt with in the same way as in Hewlett-Packard or any other organisation. That is the difference it will make.

Deputy Fleming spoke about property, a matter he has raised this with me in the past. We have had and continue to have discussions with NAMA to establish whether we can extract the best possible deal in terms of the utilisation of space. Along with the Minister, Deputy Howlin, I will bring a new memorandum on property to Government. Property in the public sector is like a gigantic chess game. If one moves someone, there is a gap that must be filled. Up to now, we have not had the big stick to compel a Department to move to a particular place and say "sorry for your troubles", but we will have it as a result of this memorandum, and that is important. Up to now, the OPW has been in the position of trying to cajole and persuade people but we have not had a big stick approach. The memorandum will give us that. The memorandum will also ensure we have for the first time ever a map of what we know we own throughout the country. This has not been the case in the past but the new office plan we will put in place will ensure greater and more efficient use of space. I will challenge everyone to reconsider cellular offices. Is a person entitled to a cellular office because he is a particular grade? In my view, he is not. That is something we will drive to ensure we get those efficiencies.

I was asked whether we have people from the outside in the system for procurement. Yes, we have. Recently, we took in seven buyers from the private sector who have particular knowledge in certain sectors. They are working in the national procurement service, which was under the OPW but which will move now to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.