Should we rethink the Public Service in Ireland? -speech by DCU President, Ferdinand von Prondzynski
-11 November 2008

Speaking today at graduation ceremonies in St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, President of DCU, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski questioned whether we should re-think the Public Service in Ireland.

He said, "The State should stop establishing public sector bodies that are styled 'Authority' or 'Board', as these suggest a culture of control and bureaucracy. Instead we should favour 'Agency' or 'Service', which may help also to instill a spirit of service amongst officials. All this is particularly important as the country seeks to harness entrepreneurship and creativity as ways to get us out of recession".

He went on to say that the performance and effectiveness of the public service in Ireland has come under increasing scrutiny.

"Earlier this year the OECD Review commissioned by the Government on the Irish public service was published, and this raised a number of questions about how it operates and concluded that the main reform needed was one of changing behaviour, and that there was a need to coordinate the various elements to achieve an overall strategic direction.

"There are some signs that the public service in Ireland has not adapted to the changes in the world in which it is set, and that the assumptions and practices it operates have not much changed from the founding of the State.

"Overwhelmingly public servants behave honourably, but often their instincts are bureaucratic rather than innovative, and often the prevailing culture of one of monitoring and controlling rather than releasing creativity and facilitating change.

"This has become even more important in a multi-cultural Ireland, where public agencies can become intimidating places for immigrants" .

St Patrick's College is a linked college of DCU

ENDS