Joe O'Toole (Independent)

In recent days the Taoiseach raised issues regarding the delivery of public service. These comments have been interpreted in the newspapers as anti-public service or anti-public service unions. I do not see them in that way. The issues raised by the Taoiseach are genuine. How we deal with them is the question. No one in the leadership of the trade union movement would have a difficulty with the Taoiseach raising issues. However, it is timely to look at the matter in the context of what happened today. I ask Members, particularly on the Government side, to concentrate on this issue. A couple of thousand people in the health service are wondering about their jobs this morning. They will worry all day and go home tonight and meet another couple of thousand spouses or partners, all of whom will look at their mortgage arrangements and their futures. By the time the issue reaches the public domain it will have built up a head of steam. It will then eventually, belatedly and laterally come to the trade union movement. Trade union leaders will have to explain this to upset union members who do not know the next step. This is a classic example of how change should not be managed. It could be put into a textbook of what not to do.

What I am now saying will be forgotten and the next time the House will discuss this matter will be in six months time when the problem re-emerges at another level. The problem created today is that people will take up positions before the matter is explained to them. One will be on the back-foot trying to deal with it and the changes will never be managed. I would appreciate if Members on the other side of the House would raise this matter with their parliamentary parties, asking how we get ourselves into these situations. I want a debate on the public service, the service we need from it and the changes and modernisation processes it requires.