Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I was a few minutes late. I was in Roscommon town on personal business this morning and when I came out, the tyre burst on my car. I thank the lads in Roscommon who did a quick change for me and sorted me out. I should have been before. That is the reason I am running a bit late. Thanks to everyone, and I appreciate the House letting me speak after I was supposed to be here.

Like many others, I welcome this Bill. As others have pointed out, the Sláintecare consultant contract will require consultants employed by the State to focus 100% of their time on the public work within the public health system. At present, under the financial emergency measures in the public interest Acts, which everyone knows as FEMPI, no changes can be made to the public service pay for particular groups or individuals in the absence of legislative amendments. This limits the Government's ability to deliver key policy commitments as they arise. The Government is committed to reform of our health services, and that has to happen. The Sláintecare consultant contract, as we all know and accept, has to be key to that. This legislation will enable the contract to be progressed by the Minister for Health in the coming months. Similarly, the proposed new enabling legislation is also required to enable public health doctors to move to consultant contracts. The Minister for Health has said he wants the consultants for public health to be put in place as quickly as possible.

There has been much talk here about the public service. I agree with Senator Burke, I would like to see it opened up. There should be new initiatives and new ideas. We should pay tribute to many in the public service, and indeed to the rest of us, for their excellent duty and care to their jobs over the very dark period for our society. Despite all the criticisms, we can say Ireland handled the Covid shock in quite an exemplary way. Our vaccine roll-out has been well handled. Some of the problems that arose were due to the shortage of vaccines coming into the country. How our local authorities have responded has been remarkable. In some cases we got things done we were told in recent years could not be done, which is also an eye-opener. I found a huge amount of co-operation from the staff in the Department of Social Protection whenever I called about people's issues. All that should be recognised.

Sometimes, derogatory comments are made about the public service but I must remind everyone the FEMPI cuts took a lot of money away from the people in the public service.The cuts have not been totally unwound yet. It must be acknowledged when rebuilding our economy after a very dark period that the public service played its part. The workers were angry about what was asked of them but they did it. They did it for the sake of the country, and that should be acknowledged.

Like others, I welcome this development today. Naturally, my party is supporting the Bill but I hope that we can have further reform of the public service, as others have said. It would be good for our country. If Covid has done anything, it has shown us that Irish people like a challenge. They have risen to the current challenge. Our public service has done so also.