While I am aware that there has been criticism of the increase in public service numbers, the IMF and the OECD credited this increase as one factor, among others, which helped the economy to achieve a soft landing in 2001 and 2002. The IBEC position is not the same as that of the Fine Gael Party in that the former turned the coin on its head and argued that the award should not be paid unless the verification groups are satisfied that progress is being made.