Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach if he will detail efforts undertaken in his Department in relation to implementing the Croke Park agreement's terms in its operations. [16288/11]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department's action plan under the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 was submitted late last year to the Department of Finance and subsequently formed part of the overall Civil Service and State agency sector action plan. Specific actions in the action plan include a further reduction in staff numbers, reduced budgets, redeployment of staff, increased flexibility and better business processes. My Department has reduced its core staff numbers by more than 19% and total staff - core and contract - by 10% since January 2008. The reduction in staff numbers last year will give rise to a saving of more than €293,500 annually. Between 2007 and 2010, the total budget was reduced by 18.2%.

In the period 2011 to 2014, significant further reductions will be achieved. My Department is on course to achieve these savings, although once off payments have to be taken into account this year, including costs associated with the recent visits of Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama and severance payments to contract staff. Both the departmental action plan and the action plan for the Civil Service and State agency sector are available on my Department's website.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Taoiseach's comments last week where he praised the implementation of the Croke Park agreement. The evidence is that public servants are actively engaging in the process of delivering reforms and efficiencies. It is time that the rhetoric acknowledged this rather than being the empty tough talking some Ministers have engaged in regarding the agreement. Given the Taoiseach has praised the agreement's implementation, will he now have the courtesy to withdraw his statement that it was not being implemented? It is important that people are not left with the notion that he was simply playing politics on this issue. It would be a welcome acknowledgement if the Taoiseach confirmed that he no longer believes the agreement is being ignored.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The position is that the Government received a report in respect of the implementation of the agreement. The findings are that the agreement and all involved in it are measuring up but, clearly, as the Minister without Portfolio pointed out, there is a need for acceleration in the implementation of further elements of the agreement. As the Deputy will be aware, if the agreement is not implemented, there will be other consequences. I intend, along with the Minister without Portfolio, Deputy Howlin, to meet the representatives of the bodies associated with the accelerated implementation of the agreement and to give every assistance I can to see that this happens. It is in everybody's interest that it does and I have experienced nothing but goodwill from public servants who want to demonstrate that they are willingly and voluntarily contributing to this.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach is on record as saying the agreement was being ignored and so on. He has changed his tune in this regard and that is welcome but he should be clear about that.

The Taoiseach's Department has a great deal of expertise in the handling of social partnership agreements and so on. Has he any remaining involvement in the partnership process and reform following the restructuring of the Department?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I spoke to the National Economic & Social Council, which has representatives of all the pillars, recently. While social partnership is not in situ in the way it was previously, I have stated that it has a role on a continuous basis and I am happy to participate where I can. As Taoiseach, it is my responsibility and duty to assist in seeing that the Croke Park agreement is implemented and I apply myself to that with individual Ministers and groups that are involved in seeing that the agreement happens.

I commend those who have brought about savings to the extent they have, and commend them for their willingness and co-operation in achieving progress thus far. I share the view of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform that there is a clear need for an accelerated timeframe to implement the remaining elements of the Croke Park agreement. I will apply myself to that with the Minister, Deputy Howlin, the other Ministers and all the sectors involved to ensure it becomes a reality. It is in everybody's interest.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We agree there needs to be an effective, efficient and economic delivery of public services. An aontaíonn an Taoiseach gurb iad saoránaigh atá ag lorg agus ag fáil na seirbhísí cearta? An é sin an cheist mhór faoi na seirbhísí seo?

There is also a social consequence to all these matters. We can see this in the health services and the cutbacks to special needs assistants in schools. Would the Taoiseach agree that the moratorium on recruitment in the public sector is having a devastating effect on the delivery of front-line services? Can that be rectified as part of this programme?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Croke Park agreement allows for redeployment and opportunities to get more done with less. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will shortly introduce a series of proposals about the next phase. To that end we wish to encourage and motivate everybody to continue the good work on this path so the highest level possible of service delivery is achieved. This means, of course, deciding on priorities with constrained budgets. Choices must and will be made. The moratorium was introduced for a very good reason and, therefore, positions to be filled should be of priority and absolutely required. Given the constraints on the country, we are going to have to do more with less and that applies to everybody.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We must get more with less. Is there no way the Government might consider equality proofing some of these decisions? Of their nature, public services serve citizens. The Taoiseach knows the root of the word "public" relates to "people". Many times it is the most vulnerable people, those who are in trauma or ill, are young or have disabilities who are affected. Would the Government consider bringing in a system to equality proof its decisions as part of its reform package in order that we can look at the social consequences and guard the most vulnerable of our citizens?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy can take it this is an inherent part of the work of good government. That is why we made a decision to reverse the cut in the minimum wage in order to give a level of protection to people at the lower end of the scale. Those who are in vulnerable positions or who need particular attention or provision of levels of service and facilities clearly must be a priority for any Government that has social justice and conscience at its heart. I would like to think that Government is not just about statistics and numbers. Essentially, it is about people and their lives. The Government must make choices. We do not have the flúirse airgid, about which the Deputy and I have spoken. Therefore, choices must be made and there must be a sense of equity and fair play for people. What went on in this country for very many years was far removed from fair play. We must now rectify that situation and we will.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We need more clarity on the Taoiseach's reply to the question on social partnership in his Department. The essence of that reply was that the central role the Department of the Taoiseach had in social partnership no longer holds. Yesterday, I asked questions in the House about filling the vacant position of secretary general in the Taoiseach's Department. I regret to state I got more information about that in The Irish Times this morning, from an article by the newspaper's political correspondent who was obviously well-briefed by Government sources, that I got from the Taoiseach's replies in the House. That goes to the very heart of the lack of accountability in this House - the withholding of information and reluctance to reveal what is happening. The reason, of course, is that the Secretary General in question had a key role in the whole social partnership process and its evolution. Has responsibility for social partnership moved, in essence, from the Taoiseach's Department?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I did not see the article the Deputy mentioned but am not sure the writer could have information about positions that are not yet filled. These are responsible positions and although there is a process to be put in place people can comment about any particular process. However, accountability lies in respect of decisions made and that would, of course, apply. In this case, the positions which are not yet filled will be filled. I will be accountable for the completion of that process and for seeing that the best people are appointed to responsible positions in order to deliver hefty programmes, as the Deputy is well aware.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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What about social partnership?

What about social partnership?