Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On numerous occasions, including on the Order of Business or during debates with Ministers with responsibility for public sector reform, I have raised my concerns and fears about the slow pace of reform of practices within the sector. One debate springs to mind with the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, on the subject of the Croke Park agreement. We discussed differing views on whether it is possible to micro-manage an organisation as large as the public sector. Independent observers tell me that on the day, it was a score draw, but I am magnanimous, so I will give it to the Minister of State, although only by a whisker.

Being serious again, I often compare the pace of reform to what has happened in all forms of the private sector as it swiftly adjusted to the new economic backdrop in which it found itself working. I felt passionately for some months that the Government needed to take a much tougher approach with many of the public service unions, as ultimately it is - by the people's choosing - to manage the State's public finances and services.

The recent Labour Relations Commission negotiations, which concluded earlier this week, have brought about long overdue and much-needed reforms. I appreciate that these are still only proposals and have not been endorsed by public sector workers but the Government should be loosely congratulated for making serious strides to save ¤1 billion from the public service pay bill. This morning, I call on public service workers to consider the country's financial position - we are broke - before deciding to accept or reject these proposals. It is worth noting that Ireland still has a large deficit between revenue collected and public expenditures, and when I last checked, it was still the highest in the eurozone.

However, it is not all applause for the Government this morning, and I am sure all Senators have reservations, as I do, about increment freezes or delayed payments being applied to relatively low-paid public servants. I would have liked to have seen the thresholds for the freeze being placed higher than what is proposed. In the coming months, there may be a need to revisit the issue and I look forward to engaging with the Government when these matters come before us in the Seanad.

I regret the Government's decision yesterday to remove the mobility allowance and I second Senator Cullinane in a sincere hope that the Government has a clear strategy to take care of these people in future. The Government seems to be making an unfortunate habit of targeting the most vulnerable in our society. We were in here before Christmas discussing the respite grant, and the Seanad almost voted for a change in that respect.

Senator Hayden mentioned banks and I agree with her comments regarding the size of bonuses. Will the Minister for Finance come here to discuss, as we do in the private sector, setting the key performance indicators for banks that should be in the public interest? These must work in the interest of the Irish citizens and taxpayers, and if the bank performs in our interest, it could then award bonuses. It should not lie alone with profitability for shareholders. We are the shareholders.