Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

At least he could not do much damage in that role with regard to the economy, the country and regional development.

This is a crucial policy of regional development which is very important to communities throughout the country as well as to Dublin which suffers from the terrible mess of traffic congestion etc. Applied in an organic and principled way, it could be a very positive policy for the people. It could improve public services and help communities. In the way this Government has approached it, bringing it forward as a cynical, opportunistic local election stroke, it has been reduced to the existing shambles.

Will the Government allow this Dáil to have a comprehensive debate on the matter? Will it, for a change, come in honestly and put in front of the Dáil and the people of the country a method of proceeding in a proper, planned and realistic way? This would satisfy the needs of balanced and devolved regional development, as well as protecting the rights of public sector workers who have been used cynically as pawns.

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