Dan Boyle (Green Party)

The Leader will be well-disposed towards a debate on public sector reform in the light of the publication today of a Government report. Such a debate is necessary. Some of the things said have already been highlighted in the OECD report and should form the context of such a debate.

Many people mentioned the positive aspects of that report but there were many negative aspects. It discussed the artificial distinction between the Civil and public service, the lack of mobility between the public and private sector and within the public sector itself and the development and existence of restricted practices. All of these need to be examined and eliminated if we are to have a public sector that operates at the highest level.

Regarding the resignation of the director general of FÁS and what was said yesterday on the Order of Business, the right decision has been made. My party issued no statement indicating support and anyone who heard me on the Order of Business yesterday could hardly think I had confidence in the situation pertaining in FÁS. We need to go further. The revelations that brought about the resignation of the director general need to be looked at in the context of the board of FÁS. There is a need to question all activity in State agencies and see if these practices exist, to what extent they exist and who should take responsibility for them. If that means public accountability, that is what it means.

We should be grateful these stories are coming out. They need to be responded to and represent something that no one in political or public life can accept. The sooner we have such a debate and inform better standards and practices in public life, the better.