Mr. Rob Wright:

We did talk about the challenges of recruitment within the public service recruitment process. I think there was some frustration at the timelines of that process. I did not get into it in detail, other than urging the Department to be more proactive in the sorts of public service modernisation that were talked about. I did talk about the Canadian model, where we do have an engagement annually to hire university graduates not just to an economic analysis unit, but to the whole policy needs of the department. I advocated that because I thought particularly - it has been a very challenging environment - for an economist graduating from university in Ireland or anywhere, it would be an extraordinary opportunity to see some fascinating times and so, I think, that is something that, over the long-term, should be done every year. You should hire some people.

I do not have a lot more to say on the Government-wide staffing process other than certainly for promotions and even perhaps hiring from outside, it is hard to do in a period of severe restraints. There was little intake for a year or two and they are now looking forward to doing more of it. The real question is whether there is an appropriate dynamic for hiring throughout the public service that is a more modern approach and that deals with the performance issues.

The Department has gone through a performance management process and identified areas already, and some people that needed some support, but if one went to the rank and file of the Department, people have said not enough has been done. People feel that one must be more conscious of problems with performance. They do not want to sit next to someone who is not doing as much work or working as effectively as they are, without any variation in their level of compensation. That dynamic has started but I do not have the details in terms of the detailed Irish Government staffing process.