FINE GAEL finance spokesman Richard Bruton called for “a more realistic approach” to public service reform within the Department of Finance.

He said that he had read the high-level statement from the department, setting out its targets.

“These include a high performing public service, value for money, a regulatory structure that secures public confidence, an effectively functioning banking system and budgetary stability.

“If anyone sought a comprehensive statement of everything that has gone wrong in the past three or four years, it is available in that list.

“However, the annual output statement of the department declares ‘delivered’ beside each of these targets; that is to say, the department has delivered a reformed public service, a regulatory structure with public confidence, budgetary stability and an effectively functioning banking system.

“Who is it fooling? These things have not been delivered.”

Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan said he did not accept the existence of such a void.

“The public service reform agenda is central to the work of my department,” he added.

“The way in which it will be managed in the future has been discussed between the Taoiseach and me, but it is a matter for the Taoiseach, as leader of the Government, to make final decisions on this matter and I will not pre-empt those.”

Mr Lenihan said he also wanted to “entirely rebut” the suggestion that there was no economic strategy in his department.