Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will continue my contribution to the debate on the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Bill 2013. This is an opportunity to avail of the skills in the public service. I also feel we should incentivise the public service, as is the case with the private sector, because it is very important that people feel they are contributing and that their contribution is valued. It incentivises them to provide more.

I would encourage the Minister not to forget the SMEs and to use this as an opportunity to become familiar and engage with them. We have often heard about the public sector that its members will have their wages at the end of the week while an SME owner will not.

I have heard people in SMEs say that the people concerned do not "get" this and are putting obstacles in their way. It is time the Government got it. We will get it by letting people in the public sector who have the aptitudes and skills move into areas where they can contribute in a meaningful fashion. Matching people to their interests is essential. Such people exist within the public sector. I believe this arrangement can merge seamlessly and that it will encourage small businesses to expand.

I diverge slightly to point out that such skills do not disappear on retirement. Another angle here is the experience of retired people whose voluntary contributions are valuable. As we move people around we should also recognise there are such people who can contribute. We must not forget this. This happens in the agricultural sector, an area where I am involved to a large degree. It is no surprise that this sector brings in more than €10 billion in exports because there is liaison of the skills of all concerned. It is very important to recognise that.

This is just another small step along the way. I congratulate the Minister for sticking to his guns on many of these issues and making this happen. It is not easy to implement change in any organisation. Some people would like us to believe that no change is occurring - it is easy to stand up and say that. However, I applaud the effort made by all the people concerned. Change is occurring and great strides have been made. There is enormous opportunity and the fruits of it all will be seen in time. It may take some years for all of this to bed down but if one were doing this to gain immediate thanks that would not happen. This country will be a better place as a result of this Bill and others that have been implemented.

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