Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

In the past ten years, some seriously good people in the public service were head-hunted by private business and quite a number left. If change is to be embedded in the public service, as recommended by the OECD and the Croke Park agreement, should there be an opportunity for people from the private sector to work in the public sector and vice versa? This would give everyone a full flavour of the world of work outside and the world of administration and bureaucracy inside. Does the Taoiseach think this is appropriate? In my experience of the public service, when it is challenged, it will always come up with a result depending on the political or ministerial guidance. In the past decade, there has been a tendency to hive off every question to another consultant, report or committee. The public service was always intended to be the public service but was allowed drift into endless rows of bureaucracy. If good leadership from management is necessary, does that exist? Is the Taoiseach satisfied the quality of personnel exists to drive the quality of change the Taoiseach wants, that Croke Park envisages and that the OECD says should be embedded in the culture of the public service?

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