Charlie McCreevy (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I agree with much of what Senator White has said. It took almost 40 years for the Newbridge bypass to be completed. A late Fine Gael county councillor and business person, participated in a campaign in the 1950s opposing the building of the Naas bypass. I recall him saying in the 1970s or 1980s that he had lived long enough to be part of the campaign to stop the construction of the bypass and the campaign to build one.

Anybody who has worked with public servants is aware of their dedication and commitment. The danger is that previous retirement packages, such as the one introduced in the late 1980s, were too rigid. Many people left under then, but eventually they were all replaced. The proposed cap on the overall numbers allows for more flexibility.