Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Unlike many others, I have never agreed with the idea that Ireland is held back by its civil servants. I believe the opposite is the reality. Ireland's civil servants rank highly in international terms and, generally speaking, they show great dedication and commitment to public service and to their country. There is a need for ongoing reform but the programme announced last year by the Taoiseach will not, as he said, transform the Civil Service. It will implement many important improvements, just as many other programmes have done.

The Civil Service Management Board has announced that it will publish a code of practice for special advisers and one element of that is supposed to be a cooling-off period following departure from political service. Will the Taoiseach explain if he is happy with the idea that political special advisers are now eligible to be appointed to permanent senior Civil Service jobs? We have just seen the situation arise where a person who served as a political adviser in this Government up to the middle of last year, and before that for nine years worked directly in a political party, has been appointed as an assistant secretary, a permanent post carrying a starting salary of €120,000 per annum. Is the Taoiseach happy with that? Is he comfortable with the idea that, notwithstanding the code of practice the management board is coming up with, someone can go from a senior political job to a senior Civil Service job while the Government he served is still in office?

In addition to that, in the programme for Government there is a commitment to introduce a reformed incentive system for all grades in all Departments to reward cross-departmental teams that deliver audited improvements in service delivery and cost-effectiveness. Most disability groups will confirm that is not working and that commitment has not been delivered upon. Perhaps the Taoiseach would also say whether all delegation orders to spell out functions of Ministers are in order?

Is it acceptable or reforming that minutes are still not being taken at meetings the Taoiseach and other members of Government attend? When the Minister, Deputy Kelly, met former Vice President, Dan Quayle, president of Cerberus, no minutes were taken then either, because we asked for them. There are other incidents which I deal with in Questions Nos. 3 and 4.

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