‘Seismic change’ needed in public sector attitudes

A “SEISMIC change in attitudes” is needed in the public sector if we are to overcome cuts in public services, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said yesterday.

She was addressing a conference in Limerick organised by Shannon Development and said the Government has been looking at public sector reform as one of the ways services can be delivered.

Ms Coughlan said: “From talking to a lot of people in the public sector on an individual basis, people are saying to me we will do one or two hours extra work without pay, for example, and is there something else we can do in order to get this country back on its feet, and that’s our preferred option. But if people are not prepared to do that at the end of the day the Government will have to make a decision.”