Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 11:

In page 19, line 14, after ?Minister,? to insert the following:
"including performance targets set by the Minister,".

It is vitally important that targets are set by the Minister and included in the service plan. That is reasonable and it would give people something to aim for. Sometimes targets are not reached but it is important to have a route to try to meaningfully achieve them.

The section states they should "accord with the wishes of the Minister". The outcome of public servants delivering legislation on the basis of Government policy should not be to loosely resemble the will of the Government. The legislation should comply with the Minister's priorities and Government policy. This wording is too loose and we are back to the Sir Humphrey safety valve. We have excellent people who are well able to perform to targets and comply with the wishes and instructions of the Government of the day and the policy as laid down.