Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

While I abide by the Ceann Comhairle's ruling, may I say that under the criteria, a sizeable number of people, including a sizeable number in my Department, are to be located under the CAF. All issues of industrial relations, information and communications technology, the Civil Service in the aftermath of decentralisation — something which obviously affects my Department — property and finance are addressed in the reports of March and September and are being analysed in considerable detail with decisions taken as matters proceed. It is a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of all these issues. I am aware that the relevant people currently working on this will make a presentation tomorrow to a committee of the House. To answer Deputy Kenny's question, as regards my Department, all these things are of interest and have a bearing, but I do not see difficulties with these issues from a policy point of view.

I envisage information technology and conferencing facilities being used, as happens in every small business, never mind large businesses. Next month we will be using technology at the Cabinet having piloted it in Departments for the past year. I do not see any difficulties. Multinational companies employing 300,000 or 400,000 people on several continents are able to coherently organise their business. It will not be a problem, therefore, for the Irish public service, employing 25,000 in about 50 locations in 25 counties, to do likewise. There will be problems and obstacles in getting to this position in an operational sense, but I do not foresee a problem of any great magnitude.

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