Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Taoiseach has done a very good job of describing the process by which the Government addresses public service reform in respect of the various consultations, reports, studies and different groups that are set up to do this, that or the other on public service reform. However, the Taoiseach has not told Members what are or what are likely to be the outcomes. I asked the Taoiseach to identify a couple of specific areas he might share with the House in which in six months time, as a result of all these processes, the public will be able to see some tangible results. The Taoiseach is correct to state the public service is quite different from what it was in 1922, 1982 or 1992. Twenty years ago, were one to telephone a public office, one would get to talk to a person. At present, were one to do so, one would be presented with a menu asking one to press buttons A, B or whatever it is——

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