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

While it may not be possible for us to do so we must find ways, in conjunction with the regulator, of making energy less expensive. Many people are afraid to put on their heating and small and medium enterprises, restaurants, bars and so on are finding the cost of energy prohibitive. This must be addressed.

I am acutely conscious of the enormous change brought about by the HSE and Department of Health in terms of reconfiguration and the resultant loss in personnel.

We have new ways of doing business in the health system which, although contentious in some areas, will benefit patients and others who need access to health care services.

The Ministers for Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance must tell the troika that the health service is demand led. I hope the officials in charge of the Health Service Executive will treat health as more than a budgetary exercise. If I may reminisce with Deputy Calleary, Charlie Haughey once described the budget as a cold, calculated computer printout. Health is not about pounds and pence but people in need of care and assistance and for this reason, the State must provide a health care system. This message must not be lost. To their credit, the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, and the Ministers of State at his Department, Deputies Alex White and Kathleen Lynch, are very conscious of the position in this regard.

We must strike the right balance and continue, in the current reconfiguration programme, to make health about patients, rather than allowing the troika to decide that too many people have medical cards and so forth. More than 2 million people, or 44% of the population, require a medical card. Compassion must be shown in considering who needs a medical card. By the same token, the medical card system was abused in the past when political patronage and clientelism were rife. The old adage that if one gives, one cannot take away is becoming increasingly relevant as people who should not have been given a medical card in the first instance find their applications to have their medical card renewed refused. Medical cards should be renewed only where applicants require them.

Reform and change are never easy. Those who view the public service from outside the prism of the public sector should consider the changes that are being implemented and the way in which public servants have bought into change and accepted the task of delivering services in a new way. The area in which I am predominately involved is the health sector. Those in the health sector who do not work in the public eye and are constantly pilloried deserve credit because they perform a service and ensure the system functions. Those on the front line of the health service also deserve our thanks and consideration. We must incentivise young physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, non-consultant hospital doctors and other young graduates to enter the health system. I welcome the decision by the Irish Medical Organisation to postpone industrial action and the commencement of negotiations between the IMO and HSE. The Joint Committee on Health and Children, which I chair, has held many meetings on the issue of non-consultant hospital doctors. We need to find a solution, not for political reasons or to appease vested interests but for future generations of young doctors and the people who will need their care. For too long, we have allowed our young medical graduates to travel the world because the Irish health system does not offer a clear career pathway or progression. Remedying this problem will require a new model of thinking and a new way of doing business. I hope such a model will emerge from the current talks.

The Minister and Deputy Patrick O'Donovan referred to the "quangoisation" of the public service. I look forward to the publication of the forthcoming report on this issue. I concur with the Minister that we have too many quangos and support the Government's decision to eliminate many of them. Government must be streamlined and made more efficient, flexible and people centred. It behoves all of us, whether commentators, politicians and public or private sector workers, to avoid driving a wedge between the private and public sectors because we need both of them and all of us will benefit from a more efficient and streamlined public service.

One cannot compare apples and oranges. I hope those who comment on and write about the public service will reflect on the work that is done by public servants. If we did not have public servants, our schools and hospitals would not open, our streets would not be patrolled and our borders would not be marshalled by our Naval Service and Defence Forces. The public realm, in other words, would descend into chaos. While there is no doubt the ship of State is in choppy waters, the position would be worse were it not for our public servants. I return to the example of the Houses of the Oireachtas where we have fine, decent public servants who work hard and do unsociable hours to serve citizens. While I accept they are paid for their work, I also regret that this message is lost in most of the commentary on the public service. All of the public servants I have met in my career as a public representative and teacher care about what they do. They are concerned about the patient for whom they care or the child they educate and they want this country to become a better place. Public servants have made major sacrifices for the mistakes of the past.

Redeployment places certain people under pressure. While I accept that people have been forced to emigrate and others must commute to London, Paris, Manchester and Scotland to find work, it should also be possible to redeploy public servants from Castlebar to Cork or Dublin to Leitrim to enable them to be with their families. I hope the Bill will achieve this.

I also hope it will also be possible to go after the high pensions and remuneration of former officeholders. I accept the Government has pursued these individuals to a degree. It drives people berserk to see some of those who caused our economic decline and the deterioration in living conditions sail off into the sunset with golden handshakes and massive pensions. Some may argue that I am engaging in political populism but this issue is raised with me daily by people I meet on the street and in my office. I would be failing in my duty, therefore, if I did not raise the issue.

I compliment the Minister, his officials and Mr. Kieran Mulvey, who I have neglected to mention thus far, on the work they have done on the Haddington Road agreement. I hope we will be rid of the troika by the end of the year. I ask the Minister to consider the points I have raised, especially regarding the demand-led nature of the health system and the requirement that the State assist, protect and look after its citizens.

The public service is operating with fewer resources and staff. We are truly fortunate to have the staff we have in the public service because they do tremendous work. I do not say this to curry favour but because I work in the public service and see every day the work that is being done by our public servants.

This is important legislation. I believe the Minister will come to be recognised as a reforming Minister who helped to steady the ship of state and improve the quality of life of our citizens. That view may not be widespread now because so many people - some more than others - are feeling pain. In time, however, future generations will look back on this Government and accept that it put the people and country before vested interests.

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