Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

How does one follow Deputy Durkan? I wish to sincerely congratulate the Minister, Deputy Howlin, on his achievements during his tenure in office, particularly in the past six months. He has had the vision, courage and skill to bring about change through the Croke Park and Haddington Road agreements, which was no easy achievement. As a public servant who spent many years teaching, I recognise the major changes that have taken place, not just in education but in the public service as a whole. The Minister deserves credit for what he has done, not in terms of reducing the pay and conditions of public servants, but in the way, by and large, he has brought everybody with him .

It was not easy and although members of the public service often found it unpalatable it was necessary. As stated by Deputy Durkan, none of us who work in the public service and are public representatives want to have to work longer hours and be paid for less. However, we are in difficult economic times.

We all recall the budget in which decentralisation was proposed and the promise of the pot of gold in that regard in terms of redeployment and the mobility of public servants to the four provinces of the country. What we now have is reconfiguration, flexibility and greater mobility within the public service, all of which are necessary. Despite what the naysayers of this House have to say, who, despite Deputy O'Donovan's commentary, remain conspicuous by their absence, there has been a reduction of 12% in public service numbers since 2008.

The next task for the Minister, which will be an even bigger challenge for him, the Government and all of us, is to re-energise and re-enthuse the public servants who continue to work for us and with us. These are dedicated, committed people. It is easy for some of the fourth estate in particular to write about public servants. One publication in particular makes an almost weekly attack on them. However, much good work is being done. During the hearings on the heads of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013, the subsequent hearings following its publication and on Committee Stage members of the public service employed in the Houses of the Oireachtas, including the clerk to the Committee and staff of the secretariat worked morning to night, at weekends and during Christmas holidays and Bank Holiday weekends. They were contactable at 12 midnight and 7.30 a.m. and were often at work at 7.30 a.m. preparing and organising for meetings and debates, but were not seen. That is just a small example of public service delivery.

I engage regularly with nurses, doctors, health care workers and teachers who go above and beyond the call of duty in serving the patient, student or person requiring their assistance. I often receive telephone calls from staff of Cork city or county council or the HSE long after the supposed finishing time of 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Again, this is not known by many. We must now enthuse those who remain about the new journey we are on as a country. We have all had to incur hits and losses. I accept that the income levels and quality of life for many people in our public service have dropped.

I attended a public meeting of the INTO last Monday night in Cork, at which a great deal of frustration, anger and hurt was expressed. There was also huge positivity. I got into trouble for making that comment on Twitter following the meeting. Despite the frustration, what I heard that night was the commitment of professionals to those under their care, which is commendable. I hope that we can find a way of incentivising the public service. It is important we look at how can once again provide employment at different levels within the public service. It is important we provide people with opportunities to work.

I was struck today by the remarks of David Begg in the Seanad. It would be remiss of me not to commend him and Jack O'Connor on the role they played in what happened subsequent to the Croke Park and Haddington Road agreements. It was not easy for the trade unionists to accept there would be pain for their members in leading a new type of Ireland. Again, the naysayers will complain and give out but both of those gentlemen deserve credit, as do members of the unions for recognising we are in a difficult economic situation. It gives none us in Government any pleasure to support cuts to different budgetary elements. However, it is time to pause. Deputy O'Donovan spoke about the manner in which classes are being taught and about how people in the health care system are being cared for. I know that the Minister, Deputy Howlin and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, are looking to post-January when Ireland finally exits its bailout agreement. However, there comes a time when it is necessary to call a halt. As a member of Government who canvasses, engages and meets regularly with people in his office, I believe we have reached that point because people do not have a lot more, if anything, to give. We must be conscious of that. I do not propose to get into the budgetary arithmetic today.

During the decommissioning last Friday of the L.E. Emer I was struck by the remarks made by Commodore Mark Mellet, a fine person and commander, about the benefits of the Navy. I was not aware until Commodore Mellet mentioned it in his short speech that the Navy, as well as defending our nation, fishing grounds and island territory, is responsible for defending our communication lines in the oceans surrounding us, particularly the Atlantic Ocean. As he said, we tend to forget that the Navy is responsible for defending vast amounts of communication lines. Those of us of a certain generation who have a romantic view of Ireland did not understand the dangers and risks for our Garda Síochána and Army personnel patrolling and protecting the Border and now protecting our nation. They, too, are public servants. While for many this work is a vocation or career, others, in particular community gardaí, wish only to work with and assist people.

We must always find ways to encourage redeployment, mobility and flexibility. Like Deputy O'Donovan I am baffled by the salaries paid to some CEOs, many of which are in excess of those paid to the Minister or Taoiseach. It makes no sense. The argument in support of this is always that they are responsible for making huge profits, employing large numbers of people and running huge organisations and so on which bring in huge revenues for those organisations and the State.

Another bug-bear of mine, which I mentioned previously in this House, is the rising cost of energy. While this issue does not necessarily come within the remit of this Bill there will come a point when we will have to address the issue of energy. I am not sure if the Minister heard the marks made yesterday in England by Ed Miliband in regard to the freezing of gas and electricity prices.

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