Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I support the call for a debate on public service reform made by Senator Alex White on the Order of Business yesterday. He referred to a recent and excellent speech made by the Minister for Finance at the Indecon conference. Another very good speech was made by the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy McGuinness. I recommend that Members read the two speeches, both of which concern improving efficiencies and productivity in the public service. Everybody recognises this is a priority. A debate on this would be good because it will open our minds to a new approach to ensuring current systemic inefficiencies, which are costing taxpayers enormous sums of money, are dealt with. There are excellent people in the public service but, equally, there are others who are hiding behind them, many of whom are protected by trade unions such as IMPACT, which regards itself as a preserver of inefficiencies.