Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

We have seen in recent times appalling failure in public service, in terms of the regulator's office and FÁS, which has been rewarded by golden handshakes. What type of signal does this send out in terms of accountability?

The Government consistently states in respect of this disaster into which we have plunged, economically, that it acted at all times on the best advice available. Is this not a cop-out when all this so-called best advice remains anonymous? Did the Minister read the article by a well respected commentator on public service reform which described the track record in execution of major policy strategies as suffering from implementation deficit disorder. It is also stated in that article that the Department of Finance is incapable of leading reform in the public service and that it, more than any Department, needs radical reform. What is the Minister's response to that level of critique?

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