IRELAND
Ireland’s top Public Servant, Robert Watt (pictured) has called for greater accountability among Government workers, but warned against the development of a “culture of blame”.
Mr Watt, who is Secretary-General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, told the annual conference of the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants it was important that staff should be able to put their hands up when things went wrong.
He stressed that it would be inappropriate to comment on current controversies involving the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health.
Mr Watt said PS employees were held accountable through Parliamentary questions, Freedom of Information requests and appearances before Parliamentary Committees, however, there were other aspects of accountability and there could be suggestions that relevant personnel should retire or resign.
Asked about the difference between accountability and a blame culture, Mr Watt said organisations that perform well are those that recognise and learn from failings.
“It is important to develop a culture where people are not afraid to put their hands up or be open about something that did not go well, and that would lead to a much more effective organisation,” Mr Watt said.
However, he rejected suggestions that such an approach would lead to a culture of impunity in which no PS employee would be punished for egregious failure.
Asked about restrictions on political party membership and activity for PS staff, Mr Watt said there were no plans to move away from the current position for mid-ranking or senior PS staff, but there was scope for a discussion on whether a blanket ban for all grades was appropriate.
Meanwhile, the country’s largest union says it will resist any attempt for the Government to “recalibrate” the current Public Service pay deal.
It follows a comment from Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Leo Varadkar that some money earmarked for pay rises for staff across the Public Service could instead be used to tackle the lower pay rates for newer entrants.
Highly placed PS union sources said the Government had tabled no such proposal.
Any move to change the deal, which was negotiated last year and came into effect in January, would have to involve a re-ballot of union members.
Dublin, 12 May 2018
