Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I do not expect any acknowledgment or praise from the Deputy opposite and I am never disappointed. The head count reduction is a strategic part of the Government's plan to reduce numbers, given that it constitutes a permanent reduction in pay. If one merely reduces pay, a choice that some Deputies on both sides of the House have indicated their preference for, it could develop back. Reducing in quantum terms the total number working in the public service is a permanent reduction. It is necessary, as we will borrow €1.5 billion per month during 2012 to pay for these services. We want to do this in a strategic way.

We have managed to make radical reforms in a range of areas. I am disappointed that there is no acknowledgment of the significant, ground-breaking reform programme that I presented to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and the Committee of Public Accounts last year. It entailed 200 individual actions and 70 programmes. I have set up a reform office in my Department and recruited an external director to drive reform. We can bring about radical change while protecting front line services. Unlike in many other European jurisdictions, Ireland has no national strikes, working to rule, and so on. We are getting on with the job while making changes.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to answer all of the list of questions. We have quantified the amount of money involved. The cost of pensions would be a real cost in any event. These people have worked up to 40 years and the planning for their pensions have been under way for those 40 years. It is not a new cost that was previously unaccounted for or unknown. It would have to be paid in any event, perhaps in one year or two, because the full complement of contributions has been made by these public servants. The strategy on which the Government has embarked, its reform agenda, is comprehensive, ground-breaking and different. I expect it to bear great fruit in the coming years.

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