Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I note that the public service reform plan, which is the most recently published document from the Minister, cites an OECD study from 2010 which reflects the fact that prior to all of these cuts in the public sector, this State was beginning from a very low base in comparative terms in respect of the numbers of public sector employees. It is a point I made to the Minister very many times - a point that he rejected very many times - but I am very happy to see that this thought and analysis have found their way into his current thinking.

The Minister has reduced his target of the number for reduction within the service by year end, which is welcome. In respect of the health service in particular, could the Minister be a bit more specific in his answer? At the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform, I raised the fact that there is a crisis in the service, which is reflected in the trolley count numbers and many other indicators. Could the Minister be more forthcoming on that?

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