Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ross for acknowledging the progress made on the employment front. It is always difficult to discern cause and effect but there is no doubt that the IDA, for example, is deemed internationally to be one of the most effective agencies at delivering employment opportunities in a very competitive environment for foreign direct investment. Equally, following the collapse the challenge for Enterprise Ireland was significant in terms of picking up small Irish-owned businesses and bringing them into export markets. Against that background, at a cost per job of €13,000, we know that each year a person is taken off the live register the Exchequer gets €20,000. If those jobs are sustained there is a clear benefit.

The paper to which the Deputy referred was one in which I spoke about virtually all of government and how public service reform could be introduced. I suggested that over time new governments should consider replacing boards after a period had elapsed. I did not in any way indicate a promise on behalf of Fine Gael. If the Deputy reads the speech he will see there are many other suggestions about how we could improve. As Deputy Ross is aware, statutes set out the way in which boards are replaced, which is typically two per year, and that is the basis on which I work.

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