Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It will require a great deal of leadership on an ongoing basis at all levels of the service to implement the vision set out in the transforming public services strategy. A great many people are ready for that challenge. The Croke Park agreement is important in that it provides the necessary industrial relations framework in which all this change can be implemented in an ordered and sensible manner and in a way that meets the agreements that have been set out. In the coming year, on foot of the Croke Park agreement, one will see resources being allocated. Obviously, there are fewer resources available to the State than was the case in the past. That itself would be a driver for change. The framework of the Croke Park agreement enables people to work within allocated budgets to provide the maximum efficiencies, redeployments and changes that will be necessary. This will vary from location to location as well as sector to sector. Even within sectors, there may be different resolutions to various issues depending on the situation on the ground and where the flexibility and redeployment can be applied.

Under the Croke Park agreement, it is envisaged the resolution of these issues would be dealt with primarily at local level. Any reference to the implementing body, therefore, would be more the exception than the rule. It is important the agreement works in that way.

We are all anxious to see this change accelerated. It will be driven by the budgetary allocations made for the coming year. We have already seen good examples where this has occurred. I remain confident the Croke Park agreement will deliver the changes it set out and to which the parties concerned are committed. It is challenging but I believe there is sufficient nous and leadership at local level to see it through. Both management and union representatives will have to provide this to achieve this outcome.

Everyone who works in the public service will be aware the taxpayer is not in a position to provide resources to the same extent as before. Accordingly, changes internally in how services are delivered and being flexible and creative about this is fundamental to maintaining the best possible service for the citizen, who must be at the centre of all our concerns, and in ensuring the organisational arrangements are to maximum and optimum effect.

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