Government must own up to errors

THE Government should own up when it gets things wrong, Finance Minister Brian Cowen told the Árd Fheis.

The coalition has come under sustained attack from the opposition in recent weeks because of a series of spending debacles, including the €180 million wasted on two health service IT systems, PPARS and FISP.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Tanaiste Mary Harney struggled when trying to downplay the problems with those systems in the Dáil. However, Mr Cowen suggested the Government should simply admit to getting things wrong in such instances. “I believe that we need to recognise mistakes and not be defensive. Given the scope of Government activity, suggesting problems don’t exist would, in my view, be unacceptable.”

He said this could not lead to a campaign “to demoralise” the public service. “This is something which opposition critics who are only interested in media headlines should reflect on. We have to recognise the value and commitment of the public services since the foundation of the State and make sure we avoid an assumption that all public servants are incompetent.

“We don’t want to see a demotivated, risk-averse public service, [but] of course, we must listen and act when justified and proportionate criticism is levelled, and take constructive action as a result.”

Recent measures he announced would ensure greater value for money. These include fixed-price contracts for all major public projects and ongoing departmental reviews of contracts for projects costing more than €30m.