Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I agree with the Taoiseach, for once, in that it is not about governance where Ministers go off into a corner and make up their own minds. However, that is exactly what the former Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, did when he announced his decentralisation programme. It involved 10,000 civil servants moving to 53 locations over three years, but he never told anyone — well, maybe two — before announcing it. The Taoiseach derives his authority from the people, not from any of these agencies or reports. The former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, commissioned 120 reports. Some of the most brilliant people I have ever met work in the public service and they have always played their part above and beyond the call of duty. The point is, however, that if they are asked or challenged to provide the answers to political or public service problems that the Government might face at any one time, they will invariably provide a list of options. In many cases, they will not require outside consultants to do reports in the first instance. The Taoiseach spoke of leadership in that regard but he draws his authority from the people, not from consultancy reports. I admit that such reports may be necessary in some cases if they are of a technical or specialist nature.

The Taoiseach spoke of economies in spending and I agree with that. The Taoiseach should ask the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who is beside him, about that. An operation may cost approximately €5,000 for someone on a waiting list, but why is it that under the National Treatment Purchase Fund the same operation, carried out by the same consultant, can cost €15,000? We are seeking economies of scale but surely this is ludicrous. It could be in someone's interests to keep a long list of people for the National Treatment Purchase Fund. For example, the same operation could cost three times as much. This is not in the interests of the taxpayer or the general economy. Does the Taoiseach view this type of practical change, which he spoke of, in the interests of the economy and the people as something on which he would follow through?

Does the Government intend to consider linking the system of awarding annual pay increments in the public service with enhanced performance? In offices and elements of the public service, there are people who show great creativity and initiative, but they are swamped and stalled by the system. It might be in everyone's interests to consider the system of awarding annual pay increments and to link them more clearly with performance. This would give many public servants an opportunity to give of their best in the knowledge that they would be rewarded for their work.

In the context of public service reform, has the Government turned its thoughts to a voluntary redundancy scheme? The Minister for Health and Children, who is sitting beside the Taoiseach, referred to a voluntary scheme within the HSE. What is the Government's position on the overall public service?

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