Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

——constructive suggestions for consideration by the Government on foot of all the advice available to it. In a general sense, the Dáil can accept or reject the budget.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has a point on strengthening the labour inspectorate but I imagine this will be addressed in social partnership negotiations. I am glad the Fine Gael spokesperson did not overemphasise the issue of public service numbers because gardaí, teachers and health workers are all needed. Recruitment restrictions were introduced in 2002 or 2003, when it appeared that we might be facing difficulties, but the economic outlook has brightened considerably in the meantime. Of course one must have regard to sustainability in the longer term but, in general, the number of public servants is not excessive. For example, the number of public servants employed in Northern Ireland is approximately 10% higher than it is here and therefore it is not correct to argue our public service is overburdened.

The Fine Gael spokesperson in the Dáil referred to the need for much greater prioritisation, thus strongly implying that initiatives should be dropped or put on the backburner. In this regard I presume he meant rather more than electronic voting. I would like him to become much more specific before the next general election in regard to the Government programmes he would like to see dropped or cut back, no doubt to make room for others. In the approach to elections, the public listens to the promises of various parties but is not told what will be displaced to fulfil those promises. They are not told the unstated plans to drop certain initiatives. Perhaps decentralisation——