Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

This is an interesting amendment, although I am unsure of its relevance in this regard. As a principle, we tend not to get value from the public service for the money we spend. It is important that we put in place more measurements to ensure this happens. While I am unsure of the relevance of the amendment, the principle and concept behind it are something that should be taken on board by Departments in the public service.

A business controls its costs primarily because of competition. If it does not do so, it does not stay in business. There are in-built disciplines which do not exist where only income and expenditure measurements are in place, especially when the income comes from another source. I do not know if the amendment can be accommodated but it is a principle I would like to see established across the public service.