Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

One of the core objectives of the Taoiseach's Department is public service modernisation and he believes this is a key priority of the Department. With regard to the staff numbers in the public modernisation section of the Department, even though the issue has moved up the scale in priority within the Department in the past three years, staffing levels have not increased. Does the Taoiseach believe he can deliver on the objective of transforming the public service with the present staff complement?

I refer to the delivery of the modernisation programme. In the context of the changes that took place prior to Christmas regarding the pay cuts for senior management as a result of the order signed by the Minister for Finance, does the Taoiseach think it will be more difficult to deliver the programme? Many pubic servants are extremely hurt by the way they feel they have been hung out to dry by the Government while senior officials, who should have taken decisions to streamline the public service and to save taxpayers' money, turned a blind eye to the need to change and to restructure and were given bonuses, which have been credited against pay cuts.

My understanding is a bonus is not calculated as part of one's salary and it is paid on top of one's salary. Pay cuts should be applied to salaries and not bonuses. The structure adopted in the public service gives officials a double payment as a result of the initial bonus payment and the recent credit they have been given against pay cuts that everyone else has to take.

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