Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The essence of it is that the Taoiseach announced last night that there will be 37,000 fewer people working in the public service by 2015 - 23,000 extra from today. That is higher than the figure the Minister announced during the general election campaign, but clearly he lost that battle in Government. I accept that is the way compromise goes.

The Minister also mentioned a list of quangos to be eliminated as if he is doing something new. That is the list of bodies that were on their way out already. The emphasis should now be on implementing the Croke Park agreement to ensure it produces specific reforms. The next interim report must contain more specifics of cost savings on a Department-by-Department basis. The first annual report had no such figures and the document was lacking in that regard.

I was amazed at the Minister's public sector reform plan which I criticised on the basis that it is all geared to the appointment of a new layer of middle management in the public service. That is his definition of public service reform - I am reading the Minister's words from his document. He wants to appoint a programme director for the new reform and delivery service office. He wants to appoint a senior official responsible owner for overall delivery of cross-cutting measures.

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