Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

In many cases consultants come in where the public service does not have the expertise to undertake a job. That expertise is necessary. Where members of the public service have the expertise they do that work under the guidelines set by the Department of Finance. It is not the case that whenever someone comes in waste is created. The impression people attempt to give that every time a consultant does a job it creates waste is incorrect. We are trying to manage systems effectively and are doing so very effectively. We now have more resources than ever before which means we must be more careful. That is what we will continue to do.

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