Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

From my experience of being involved with the public service, some of the difficulties that have been overcome have been around the changes in work practices rather than savings in the number of public servants who are no longer within the system. It is very easy to gloss over the kind of work practice changes the Minister outlined on rostering and holidays. However, there are wider issues to consider in the public service, such as shared services. Ten years ago the idea that a Department or other public service body would share a service was completely anathema. Each individual body was a separate fiefdom or kingdom. We have had a significant change of attitude within the public service and that cannot be underestimated.

I know I am up against the clock. It is amazing how time flies in this House. One issue I wish to bring to the Minister?s attention in the remaining time relates to tendering for public contracts. It has come to my attention that a lot of middle range companies have been pushed out of tendering processes for State contracts because they do not carry sufficient amounts of professional indemnity insurance, for example, or other types of insurance. It is a matter of concern to me and to a number of other people to whom I have spoken that we have what are, in effect, restrictive practices which ensure that only the top and largest companies are able to tender for public contracts. I urge the Minister to examine the matter.

The second issue on which I would like an update relates to the accountability of public servants. Under the programme for Government we committed to improve the accountability of public servants, in particular to changing the recruitment practices for public servants to ensure that the best and brightest from outside the public service are brought within it. If the Minister has time I would like him to deal with the issue.