Robinson: "Time Is Right To Transform Public Services"

Speaking at the third Northern Ireland conference on transforming the delivery of public services Mr Robinson said that reform of public services is a key priority for the Northern Ireland Executive.

"Today the need to find new, better ways to deliver public services is driven not only by ever increasing expectations from the public but also by new economic realities. This is a powerful combination.

"People today expect to be able to access public services in a convenient manner. We need to seize the opportunity that is before us today by reforming and transforming our public services.

"A key priority in our Programme for Government is to deliver modern, high quality and efficient public services and we are currently taking forward the most wide ranging reform of public services for a generation.

"But this is just the start. At the heart of this reform programme is a commitment to world class public services which meet the needs of the economy and wider society.

"In just a few years' time I am confident people will come to Northern Ireland to see the excellence in public services that I know our public sector workers can provide.

"The quality of our public services will be a litmus test against which this Executive will be tested.

"We are prepared to take the difficult decisions that may be needed in the period ahead and will ultimately be judged by that standard."