Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A decade ago we had 1.8 million at work and adding 100,000 to that was deemed wildly optimistic. Today, we have 1 million more at work than then. What we need is a strategy to build the capacity of the public service to deliver for this bigger and more ambitious working population. We need to build at scale, both public infrastructure, the move to net zero, and harnessing AI. This is an incredible opportunity but it needs bolder ambition and greater innovation. I welcomed the Taoiseach's signalling at the national dialogue that we need to build the capacity of the public service. How is that to be done?

Does the Taoiseach anticipate a White Paper in this sphere? There is huge opportunity in this regard, not least in an area, health, with which he is familiar. Predictive health capabilities and better management of conditions could be transformative.

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