Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I wish to ask a couple of questions arising from the Taoiseach's long and comprehensive reply. He set out a range of activities and bodies, including a programme office, a Cabinet sub-committee and an implementation body under the public service pay agreement. Will the lead Department in respect of the transformation of the public service be the Department of the Taoiseach or the Department of Finance?

I understand an implementation body is to be established under the public service pay agreement. He indicated that discussions on the establishment of that body are ongoing. When does he intend this body to be established and by whom will its chairperson be appointed? It was to be composed of three members from the management side and a further three from the public service unions, along with an independent chairperson. Is it intended that the chairperson will be appointed by agreement of both sides? Am I correct in my understanding that all the initiatives for reform and transformation, and the entire public service process, will be subject to the implementation body and that the various proposals will be put before it?

The Taoiseach indicated that reviews of four Departments are now complete and the results will be published in July, while reviews of another four Departments are under way. When these reviews are completed, is it the intention that the changes likely to take place within the Departments will be brought before the implementation body for implementation?

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