Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not accept whatsoever the assertion the Deputy makes on the progress being made on this programme. He might, if he has not already done so, read the decentralisation implementation group reports which have been published since it was first set up, which contain a number of revised timescales as a result of the work it has been doing. All of those reports have been accepted by the Government. It is clear that initial ambitions regarding the substantive programme we hope to see in this area have been altered as a result of the decentralisation implementation group's assessments, based on working with unions and management.

We are committed to this programme. The Department of Finance has the job of co-ordinating the decentralisation programme and I take on that responsibility willingly. Good progress is being made. The continuous talking out of both sides of the mouth from the Opposition is I am sure noted in many localities. On the one hand, they are criticising the fact that we have a programme at all, while on the other there are parliamentary questions coming to my Department on a weekly basis from Fine Gael backbenchers asking when it is going down to their little area. It is back to the old story.

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