Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I know what the Taoiseach said in the House. He was answering a number of supplementary questions and clearly set out the situation. One version of the situation is continually given by the other side of House. The decentralisation programme was announced and then there was a decentralisation implementation group, which was charged with the responsibility to work through the issues and implement the plan. We know how complex and wide-ranging that work is.

In 2005, the group produced a report that revised the timescale, which was accepted by the Government. The Government's position is not to have 10,000 staff relocated by 2007. Rather, we agree with the decentralisation implementation group's revision of the timetable. The group identified some early movers, highlighted outstanding issues to be addressed and spoke on State agencies, professional technical groups and the need for a ground-breaking initiative concerning State agencies that do not have the tradition of transferring staff that the Civil Service has and that has proven successful in the implementation of previous smaller plans. This has been the up-to-date position since 2005.

I have outlined that there is no change in the substantive policy of the Government, namely, to relocate Departments in some cases. In his response, the Taoiseach also pointed out that the situation of the agencies has not been resolved, but there is an agreement to enter into an industrial relations process. The arrangements are voluntary, as was always the case, but we were not getting any engagement to try to advance matters, even from those in State agencies who wanted to relocate to ear-marked Departments or vice versa.

In the context of decentralised Departments moving to new locations in toto, personnel will be required in Dublin to handle Dáil or other business. That is the pragmatic outcome, but the basic principle of relocating sections of or whole Departments to new headquarters remains in place.

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