Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I am delighted to have this opportunity to contribute to this debate. I have given serious consideration to supporting the Government motion, but I have a personal rule about Private Members' motions which congratulate the Government — they are impossible to support. The Government's approach gives the fingers to the other side of the House. I always appeal to Governments not to propose such motions. Although the Government's decentralisation policy has many good aspects, I do not think it is a cause for congratulation. There is more to support in the decentralisation programme than there is to oppose.

I do not think the Government's case has been well served by some of the arguments that have been made this evening. I appreciate that Senator Ormonde made many valid points, with which I do not argue, but her contribution reflects a certain type of view. I do not mean this in a demeaning way. Many people argue that because we cannot move on the roads or get into a restaurant, we should move all that crowd down the country to make a bit of space for the rest of us living here.