Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As I said to Deputy Gilmore in regard to the minimum wage, there is a process and mechanism in place by which that matter is reviewed and looked at. I do not intend to interfere with the process.

In regard to the wider issue, a detailed health sector agreement is set out in chapter 2 of the draft public service agreement which specifically sets out, in such great detail that one could not contemplate reading it into the record, what is envisaged and what has been provided for. It is the case that a challenge faces us but the objective is to provide more cost efficient and better services and as good a service as we are able to provide, in a way that is sustainable in budget terms, which redesigns services and ensures that we get as many frontline people involved in the service as possible. The whole management and administration behind supporting that cannot be dismissed completely but must be done in a cost effective way that ensures that one provides the resources where they are needed and that they are not dissipated in other ways. That is the whole purpose of the transformation agenda.

There are arrangements for a very robust consultation with staff interests in respect of bringing this forward. These also mention ensuring a system is put in place where the contribution being made by those on the front line can be measured and ensure we are able to show the inputs and outputs are such that they justify resources going into particular areas. It will be therefore be possible to address the whole question of streamlining processes and procedures behind all of that. This is required to bring forward all the necessary modern technological advances to ensure costs are cut there as well.

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