Fine Gael renews call for benchmarking reform

Fine Gael has again called on the Government to suspend paying out the remaining benchmarking awards until there is evidence …

Fine Gael has again called on the Government to suspend paying out the remaining benchmarking awards until there is evidence the taxpayer is getting improved public services.

The party's spokesman on finance, Mr Richard Bruton, today outlined the Fine Gael Private Members Motion which will be debated in the Dáil next week.

The motion calls for remaining phases of benchmarking to be suspended pending implementation of a serious reform package which would yield improvements in the quality of services delivered to the public, commensurate with the extra cost involved.

"Fianna Fáil and the PDs have been running the country in the interest of their parties, not in the interest of the people," Mr Bruton said. "How else could they have negotiated such a poor deal for the Irish taxpayer in Benchmarking?"