Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Perhaps that is part of the problem. Since when did the OECD have any expertise in this area? Is it recruiting consultants in Ireland? I will reserve judgment until I read the Taoiseach's answer, but I am still not clear what the review will do. Perhaps he might put it into simpler English. Does it take the OECD to provide citizens with the opportunity to dial someone in the public service and get a human being on the end of the telephone? People of advanced years are often told to push the hash or star key, and then dial 333 and so on. That is extraordinary; when it comes to delivery of service, it would be tremendous if we could assure the public of a human response.

Does it take the OECD to improve the normal service of the Garda Síochána? The Taoiseach is well aware that there are parts of this city where citizens must dial 999 if they want a garda to reply. I recently heard of the case of a father and son who visited a Garda station by appointment. The inspector who was to meet them was not there. That can happen, and there may have been a good reason. However, they had been at the counter for 22 minutes when the young man used his mobile telephone to dial the Garda station to get the garda from behind the counter to come out and ask them what they wanted.

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