Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I want to speak about an issue which is germane to the matters raised by Senators Brian Hayes and O'Toole regarding therapists, namely, the extent to which the intent of legislation is frustrated by the inability to provide sufficient staff. I do not understand why a trainee grade cannot be developed to retain the people concerned because they will be difficult to replace if they leave the country.

I have in mind an issue which was raised on the airwaves this morning. The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement has complained that it has been unable to appoint sufficient staff to carry out its functions properly. It strikes me that the issue involves a conflict between two perfectly laudable policies and I wonder whether the Minister for Finance could come here to discuss it. I fully acknowledge the need to control Civil Service numbers and avoid superannuation and other liabilities in the future. However, such a policy can deprive Departments and agencies of the staff they need to carry out their functions. It has, for example, held up civilianization of the Garda and the introduction and staffing of the Office of the Garda Ombudsman. We should try to find a reasonable way to solve this problem.