Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is it not ironic that the Minister is referring to changes he has made since he entered office in the context of the reduction in numbers, payroll costs, etc.? Will he identify one single action he has taken in this area since he became Minister? Last year he referred to cutting allowances, but the move in that regard was an utter failure. This year he has come forward with the proposal to which my question relates, but that has now gone up in smoke. Nothing he has announced has ever come to pass. In fact, the reductions to which he refers came about as a result of tough decisions taken by Fianna Fáil when it was in government. The current Administration has not introduced a targeted redundancy programme since it came to office. It has not introduced any reforms but has instead issued press releases.

See this speech in context