Eoghan Harris (Independent)

I dissent from the sentiments expressed by Senators O'Toole, Ó Murchú, Coghlan and Buttimer regarding the public sector. If politicians are to earn their money, they must mediate among the differing needs of society. The public sector went out of control during the boom years. Any correction is bound to be bloody and difficult. It is easy to implement social partnership in boom times but it failed the first test in the recession and it fell apart. Before we can talk, the reality check has to go in hard. There is still a huge gap between the public and private sectors. Ask the Halifax workers whether they can walk back into a permanent and pensionable job like a certain prima donna who allegedly left to try the free market of politics. They have no such safety nets. Everybody knows that is the dialectic or rhythm of life.

Edmund Burke noted that anybody who gets an emolument from the public purse will not give it up voluntarily. Public sector workers received emoluments from the public purse and the gap still stands at between 26% and 30%. Before we speak to them, we have to know they understand there will be no return to the gravy train. They must do a hard day's work for their pay like everybody else. Members of the Oireachtas have now accepted the need to give value for money but the public sector is not giving value for money in many areas. Many public servants would welcome a reformed system which rewarded those who do a hard day's work on the basis of merit and fired time servers if necessary. The Government should not sit down with the public sector until the unions assure it that reform will be on the agenda. Furthermore, I deplore the decision of the Minister for Finance to allow 600 of them off the hook. That sort of sweetheart deal ties the hands of those of us who have rightly criticised the gravy train over the years. It was a mistake by the Government and it should be rectified.