Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Minister of State has been asked to examine this issue by the Minister for Finance within the Department of Finance and the public service. What is informing the exercise generally in terms of the principles to apply relates to the OECD report on the public service and the task force currently drawing up an action plan to implement and sequence the report's recommendations in a way that will bring about greater efficiencies and to address the question raised in the report regarding agencies under the aegis of various Departments. That work is advanced and will be available shortly.

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