It's a long-standing fact that the Civil Service has more men than women in senior roles. Despite overall progress, two departments in particular stand out for an almost total lack of women in positions of influence.
Mary Lou McDonald talks about a “constipated” civil service. Based on my decade on the inside, I think we could help reform it by ending permanent tenure, prioritising outside appointments for delivery roles and being flexible on remuneration. But would the permanent government allow this to happen?
Even at €292,000, Robert Watt is arguably good value to manage a €22bn budget in the Department of Health. But the real issue is the nature of the public sector, where performance and pay are not linked.
Stephen Kinsella reflects on why politicians say the things they do to get votes. He sat down with me to tell me more about this plus how the government system is becoming so complex that it is difficult to solve the country’s issues in one electoral cycle.
Ireland talks endlessly about taxation and expenditure, but few people talk about the mechanics of reform. This is what I wanted to discuss with one of the country’s top civil servants, 48 hours after Budget day.
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