Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

A tiny number have very significant pay, but the vast bulk have very ordinary pay. In order to protect pay rates we need to reduce the numbers and do things differently and more efficiently. The reform agenda is at the core of this, involving how to do things differently with smaller numbers. The public service has risen to that challenge, by and large, and is doing things differently by managing the considerable downsizing that has happened since 2008. Greater challenges will arise in the future.

I agree entirely with the Deputy on agency staff. There will be no savings in replacing pensionable full-time civil servants with agency staff. There might be occasions when that will be necessary when there are pressure points. By and large, we need to use the architecture of the Croke Park agreement to move people to fill the gaps and continue to provide a decent service.

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