Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Minister stated that his workforce planning groups have been in operation for quite some time but when the Taoiseach indicated there was a need to appoint transition teams and drew staff from the planning groups for this purpose, he must not have been satisfied with them. Will the Minister explain why it was necessary to change the processes applying to the workforce planning groups?

He used a new phrase when he referred to the next phase of downsizing for the public service. He might like to elaborate on his comment because we have just completed the voluntary retirement scheme. He said it will be targeted. Will he confirm that it will not include a compulsory element?

See this speech in context