Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

In respect of specific public service changes, the Taoiseach said he would engage with public service unions to bring about change as speedily as possible, a comment which was made before the collapse in the social partnership talks last year. The country is now faced with an increasingly uncertain situation whereby public sector workers, including teachers and health care workers, are taking industrial action. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, said at the weekend that there was a suggestion that Deputies and councillors who support the Government would in some way be blacklisted by local authority staff. As this is a matter of considerable public importance, in the context of changes in the delivery of public services is the Government engaging with the trade unions? Arising from the comments of the Minister for Finance, everybody would like to see a situation whereby services can be provided for people, as would be expected.

The Government's task force on the public service recommended that there should be a move to a common public service contract to facilitate personnel moving from one Department to another. Is there any indication whether that will receive Government support? Will it require legislation? Are the heads of any such Bill being prepared? The task force said there should be a common public service contract in order to facilitate movement from Department to Department and so on. What is the status and position regarding the task force's recommendation?

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