Eoghan Harris (Independent)

I do not care how belated the Taoiseach's conversion to reform of the public sector is as long as he continues his hard focus on the immediate need for reform of public pay. Reform of the public sector is a woolly type of concept. There are two aspects to reform of the public sector. At present, there is a need to address public sector pay to secure savings of €1.3 billion. Beyond that there is the wider question of reform of the public sector, which, incidentally, will benefit the public sector as much as any other sector of the community. Thousands of public sector workers are annoyed and frustrated by the time serving of other colleagues. There should be productivity and rewards for good public servants because we need a good public service.

However, reform of the public sector, based on the experience in other countries, is a difficult matter. The public sector is very obdurate about reform. It cannot be done overnight, and the Taoiseach can call as much as he wishes for it. It reminds me of the Shakespearean character who says: "I can call spirits from the vasty deep", to which the other character replies: "Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them?" One can call as much as one wishes for reform of the public sector but unless somebody is responsible for it, it will not be done. In that connection, I was struck by the call from Deputy Liz McManus of the Labour Party on television last night for the appointment of a Minister with responsibility for public sector reform. It is clear that we need a person who will drive that reform and that it will not happen over the next three weeks or three months. It will take three to five years to reform the public sector and to make it productive, a happy place for its workers and a sector whose services are satisfactory for the private sector.

In the meantime, there is no point talking ridiculously about demonisation and divisions between the public and private sectors because the 23% to 30% premium lies between the two sectors like a sword. Until that is dealt with the demonisation talk is a waste of energy. There is a factual, financial and social division between these two classes at present, and the division ranges from 23% to 30%. Unless that gap is closed, relations between the public and private sectors will not improve. It is very like Northern Ireland. If one pays Protestant and Catholic workers different rates of pay, there will be tension. As soon as those gaps were closed, things began to improve. The gap between the public and private sectors must be closed. The Taoiseach appears to have focused on that, and I am grateful for that small mercy.