Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

No matter how far we go, it is never enough for Deputy McDonald. We must ensure that we have quality people in the public service and a variety of skills. The Deputy has no doubt read the Nyberg report on the operation of the Department of Finance.

One of the deficiencies identified was that there were not enough experts and economists to operate a very complicated banking system. The Government and I are very pro-public service and want people of the highest calibre available. We do not want to pay rates to buy in from the private sector the skills the Government requires.

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