Serious cabinet reform needed now

IF the Taoiseach was serious about Government reform, he could have amalgamated the two security-related Government departments, Defence and Justice, placing them under one Minister for Security.

This would free up a full cabinet minister to take charge of a new, standalone Department of Employment.

The new minister could then devote his/her talents to this job full-time, rather than having to share his/her talents and time over a number of Government departments, effectively the current situation.

The new minister would be in charge of all government training and employment activity, including oversight of such bodies as FÁS and Enterprise Ireland. A real metric to measure the minister's success or failure would then be possible by comparing the numbers currently employed and unemployed each year.

In relation to the Minister for Security, many of the justice functions are in all practical terms handled by either the Director of Public Prosecutions or the Courts Service, thus guaranteeing the vital political independence of these services.

Joe Tiernan

Deerpark Road

Castleknock

Dublin 15