Joe O'Toole (Independent)

It is interesting to watch this from the sidelines and we wish them all well. I apologise for raising the matter of public sector reform day after day. We had a long, important debate in this House yesterday. The Government's policy on public sector transformation must have a trickle-down effect to every part of the public sector. If it does not, it will not work. A superb report was produced by Mr. Pat McLaughlin on local government in the summer. My colleagues elected to the Seanad from various panels may not be enthusiastic about the idea to merge county councils and local authorities. There is supposed to be a moratorium on jobs and a reform and review of local authorities. Week after week, I see jobs at senior level in local authorities being advertised, including advertisements for assistant directors in the HSE and senior positions in Cork local authorities. In today's newspaper, one sees senior jobs advertised by Offaly County Council and Meath County Council. My understanding is that these posts must be approved by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Although I stand to be corrected, I guarantee the Minister has never been told a word about these jobs.

Why is there a lack of political traction on the matter of public service reform? Why is there administrative inertia in dealing with it? Why are senior civil servants taking decisions that are undermining Government policy on public sector reform. I would like answers to these questions. Who is clearing the advertising of these jobs? They could be filled in an acting capacity until the review has taken place. The key issue in public sector reform at senior level is flexibility so that people can move from one place to another. If we start filling jobs now, that process becomes more difficult. There is a lack of joined-up effort in this regard. Government policy is not in sync with administrative operations and that is unacceptable. I gave the example of the local authority in Offaly but I have no problem with it. I have no interest in how it does its business. This example in the newspapers is undermining everything that was said by the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, yesterday. I am sure he knows nothing about these jobs. Someone must get back on track on these issues.