Former taoisigh to lose cars - FG

Former taoisigh will lose access to their State car and driver on leaving office under new Fine Gael proposals. The party will introduce a car pool system for Government ministers to halve the cost of ministerial cars and drivers from €11 million to €5.5 million, if elected.

Spokesman on economic reform Richard Bruton said the plan would replace garda drivers with a pool of civilian drivers and that only the Taoiseach, President and Minister for Justice would have garda drivers.

He said that if in office Fine Gael would introduce a tender within 100 days for the appointment of civilian drivers, to replace the garda drivers and a pool of civilian drivers would be available, and cars would be used "only for official duties".

He also proposed that in future one third of all senior public service appointments would be open to external candidates. He highlighted that of 81 senior appointments by the Public Appointments Commission 80 were internal appointments and the single external appointee had previously worked in the public sector.

The five point reform plan launched this morning also includes a requirement for all State board directors to resign within six months of a new Government taking office. All subsequent appointments of chief executives and chairmen would be vetted by a Dail committee and other members vetted by the Public Appointments Commission.

In addition the work plan and targets of 1,300 of the most senior public servants "will be published online for ease of public scrutiny" and all lobbyists will have to be registered with the Standards in Public Office Commission. The party also aims to reverse restrictions in the Freedom of Information Act.

Mr Bruton said that "serious changes must start at the top of Government to show that our plans are serious and credible" and to "have any prospect of buy-in from all those who must embrace and deliver the change that Fine Gael wants to see across our public services".