Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

This policy must be implemented as part of control measures necessary in view of the public finance position. It will require a degree of flexibility by everyone concerned, including management and staff, in the interest of making sure that those who depend on the provision of public services are not unduly compromised. That is the challenge before all of us in the provision of public services in the years ahead. Any suggestion that we can simply proceed on the basis of existing arrangements and that more resources will be provided, regardless of what Government is in office in the next five or ten years, does not take account of reality. Redeployment, flexibility and avoidance of duplication are absolute imperatives in ensuring that we get the best possible value for limited government resources in the provision of basic public services.

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