Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The point Deputy Burton makes is the very reason charters are important. If there are delays in any of the areas she has mentioned, pensions in particular, targets should be set towards dealing with the issues, getting the paperwork in and turning matters around as quickly as possible. The Department of Social and Family Affairs, given the volume of work it handles, has a good record, but if there are certain areas that are slow, that is an issue for the charter.

The same may be said as regards the point Deputy Barrett makes. Where there are statutorily bound public services for which people must pay, then it is up to the Civil Service to facilitate matters. I shall raise the particular issue he mentions as regards the NCT test. It is a matter of getting shorter time spans so that real efficiencies and savings, where applicable, can be achieved in the time that public servants take to turn around the services the public needs.

See this speech in context