Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

That is a lengthy reply which has been prepared for the Taoiseach. The OECD report made a number of recommendations and referred to the collapse of value-for-money disciplines and the damage done by an ill-thought out decentralisation programme. It referred to the habit of creating new agencies for every problem, the inability to deliver on the ambitions of e-Government and the refusal to tie pay increases in the public service to a tangible reform agenda.

It is 18 months since that report came through and it is 12 months since the task force set up by the Government to review public service reform reported back to the Government with a three-year comprehensive plan to provide reform. The public service did not cause the current problem, but it will clearly take what it gets. What is really causing a major problem is the fact that the only solution coming from Government is an austerity programme or plan. Leaving aside the response prepared for him, has the Taoiseach a view of his own on what sort of public service he wants to see in two or three years time?

The Taoiseach is entering discussions today and I hope those discussions will be meaningful and that there will not be another one-day strike next week. The Taoiseach chairs the committee. What sort of public service does he want to see in two or three years time? Will we have a public service that is rewarded for its initiative and where hard work is recognised? Will it and those it serves have a leaner, more efficient and more effective service?

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