Cowen urges greater speed in public service reform

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said the pace of reform in the public service has to be accelerated.

Mr Cowen, who made the comments at the Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service this afternoon, said the recent ratification of the Croke Park pay and reform deal by ICTU will help in advancing the changes.

The Taoiseach also said the Government intends to appoint a public service board in the coming weeks to oversee the transformation programme.