Joe O'Toole (Independent)

The overall costs are low because legal, administrative and all other costs are down. It is important to make clear that the amount of money which claimants receive is not reduced, as people with another agenda are implying that people should not go through the system because they will end up with less money. That is not the case.

I ask the Leader to organise a debate on the PIAB, not this month, but perhaps in the final week of the current session, when we will have greater experience of its dealings. Some 8,000 cases are currently being processed but only a few are being concluded. Another month will elapse before a clearer picture emerges. Details of the first 25 cases to be processed were announced yesterday and the results are very satisfactory, as no doubt further results will be. The legal profession is also learning to live with the situation. It is not a question of removing legal advisers from cases in which they need to be involved. That need will still exist.

I am delighted to hear Senator Brian Hayes call for an increase in the number of permanent public servants and I am glad this is his party's view. I am sick and tired of saying, every time we need to reduce class sizes, improve health facilities or speed up the driver testing process, that more public servants are required. Those of us seeking improved services should be prepared to defend increases in the number of public servants and increases in their salaries. This is a crucial issue. Senator Mansergh recently called for a broader debate on public service and finance and we might deal with this particular issue during that debate.