James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a very significant Bill which is being introduced as a financial emergency measure in the public interest to try to stabilise the public finances and meet our obligations in terms of the reduction of our deficit. Everyone is aware that we are in difficult economic times and our financial circumstances mean we face tough choices. If we do not make the correct decisions now, it will have catastrophic consequences for the future of the economy and will threaten the job prospects of the current and next generation of Irish people.

I am strongly aware that quality, not quantity, is the way forward to create an effective, well-honed economically viable Government. However, even with the considerable pruning of excess by the Government, more needs to be done to achieve the change on waste that the public knows is taking place. As never before, it is time for the concept of jobs for the boys to be thrown out. An inflated Government that panders to the deflated egos of politicians is a luxury we can no longer afford, in the same way that we can no longer afford bonuses, allowances for committee Chairs and other committee officeholders. In addition to the provisions contained in the Bill, I wish further wide-ranging Oireachtas reform to be introduced as a direct response to the calls from those who should be calling the tune, namely, the taxpayers.

It is hypocritical of politicians to call for cutbacks and to take from the old, the young and the vulnerable yet refuse to share the pain themselves. We should never put the interests of bankers and developers before those of ordinary people. Old habits die hard. Freedom of information has revealed to taxpayers the lifestyle and excesses of some current and former politicians. People are no longer willing to shoulder the burden alone.

At a meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts last week, we were treated to information on the trappings of power and the waste with which Fianna Fáil used public funds to refurbish the offices of Ministers and former taoisigh. This included the spending of €250,000 on an office for the Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, Deputy John McGuinness, when he was a Minister of State, and €181,000 on an office for Mr. Bertie Ahern, after he stepped down as Taoiseach and was serving as a backbencher and which he seldom used. The public are entitled to know how that was allowed to happen, as they have to make good the deficits caused.

The current leader of Fianna Fáil, Deputy Micheál Martin, was present in the Chamber this evening. He was the senior Minister in the same Department as the then Minister of State, Deputy John McGuinness, when €250,000 was spent on his office, and he served in Cabinet throughout the Ahern and Cowen eras. He must come into this House to make a statement on the amounts wasted on ministerial offices and elsewhere in his 14 years as Minister. He should also explain the reason he told some of his Fianna Fáil colleagues to stay away from tonight's Private Members' debate. However, that is another issue.

With many of my colleagues, I have been frustrated by the seeming inability of successive Governments to call elected public representatives and senior civil servants to account. It flies in the face of moral and ethical accountability for former senior Members of the Oireachtas and senior civil servants to be perceived to be above the law and for them to retire on massive pensions. That is an outrage and an insult to democracy, as it adversely impacts on everyone who depends on the integrity of public representatives and civil servants in positions of authority not to use power for private gain nor to deflect attention and retribution. It is also an insult to honest, hard-working citizens who abide by the law of the land. There is no place to hide for most people who do otherwise. No one must be allowed to be above the law. Leadership is important in a community of citizens.

In the Bill we show our will to demonstrate our appreciation of the very difficult times that many families and individuals have experienced. This is a defining time for our country, where public services and remuneration must be radically overhauled as we face real challenges. Reform is vital to the national interest. Public service reform is not a criticism of public servants. Public servants have a fine tradition of dedication and make a major contribution to the economic and social life of this country. Citizens and businesses expect a modern public service to improve continually and deliver services faster, better and more cost-effectively. We must improve structures to make the public service more citizen-centred in delivering services and in the provision of infrastructure. The public must have a greater input into policymaking to ensure services are designed and delivered to meet the highest standards. A greater knowledge of the services available and access to them with ease is important, as that attracts the confidence and support of citizens.

When I was first elected to the county council 28 years ago, the manager, county secretary and county engineer were in command. I got a decision on a query the same day on which I made the request. Now, one has to wait weeks for a decision because of the bureaucracy and red tape inherent in the system. The same goes for Departments, the HSE, SUSI, and other bodies where one has to wait ages for a reply. More efficiency is required to achieve greater savings. We would also save money if we used improved technology to help in the delivery of services such as e-mail, telephone text and the Internet, for example, and give people choices on their use. Better value for money and greater efficiency is important. There is nothing wrong with radical reform and transformation. There are approximately 400,000 talented people working in the public service and the key is to unlock that potential to the benefit of all citizens.

A number of important views and issues were taken into account in the finalisation of the Bill before us. Partnership involves consensus and eliminates the right to accept what is favourable and reject what does not suit. The Bill contains measures to reduce the top-heavy nature of Government and the public service pay and pensions bill by 2015, ensuring the pain is equally shared by all sectors of society, whether it is the Government, politicians or certain public servants on rates of pay in excess of €65,000.

The backs of the taxpayers have been broken by the burden of carrying the rich and privileged for too long. No sector of society should be immune from the negative impact of the economic downturn. This Bill is important, in that Members of the Oireachtas are showing leadership by putting their own ship in order.

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