Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I spent 19 years in the public sector so I can speak with some authority. This legislation is bringing into line the industrial relations procedures of the Civil Service and private companies. However, I do not believe it will happen in the way it would in a private company. I sense fear in this building. I sense the fear of dealing with industrial relations matters. It is not part of the management systems. It is difficult to reprimand and demote people. In a private company one cannot afford to do this because one would go out of business. I admire those in the Civil Service and their integrity and patriotism. We do not want a Civil Service that operates like the dead hand of bureaucracy. The reason I stand here today is to say that I never again want to see a personnel problem in the Civil Service being investigated by a former public servant. I will not mention the case in question. An outside consultant has no allegiance to any group. If or when the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, becomes Minister, I ask him to ensure it never happens again that a public servant adjudicates on a colleague. The matter should be investigated by an outside independent consultant.