John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

The Minister should read the book because I never saw anyone getting into bed with bureaucracy with such speed. That is what this Bill and the Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 are about. As he is doing exactly what it says in the book, the bureaucrats should be happy with him for abandoning his practical approach to politics and taking to the comfort zone of doing what they say.

He mentioned 6,500 staff posts in local authorities. Similarly, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform regularly equates reform to the loss of 37,000 people in the public service when he should be changing the entire ethos of government. That is where the efficiencies will be achieved.

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