THE CIVIL, Public and Services Union (CPSU) has defended its members following severe criticism from Minister of State for Trade John McGuinness.
The Minister of State said jobs needed to be cut across the civil service and State sector. In an address to the Beverage Council of Ireland's annual conference last Friday he described the public service as "now so protected by its unions that it has largely become a reactionary, inert mass at the centre of our economy".
He said the public service culture "destroys ambition, resists change, and is now so insulated from reality that information can be withheld from a Minister, unfavourable reports are doctored and answers to parliamentary questions... are master classes in dissemination and obfuscation..."
Eoin Ronayne, CPSU deputy general secretary, said the comments were "rich coming from a triple-jobber holding what some see as questionable junior ministerial posts".The Minister's "irrational attack" would undermine social partnership, and he called on Tanaiste Mary Coughlan to reprimand him.
A spokesman for Mr McGuinness said his comments were targeted at a system and a culture, and not at any individuals.
