Brendan Kenneally (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon. I thank the Progressive Democrats for tabling this motion, which is an important one. I am always delighted to speak on decentralisation. Since I first became a public representative as a member of the then Waterford Corporation in 1985, it is a subject I have addressed on many occasions. It has always been close to my heart because I am aware of its importance and have spoken about it whenever I got the opportunity in the various fora that were available throughout the years. I am delighted to put forward my views on decentralisation and support the motion before the House.

The Fine Gael Party is very much in danger of becoming the anti-civil servant party. It is against decentralisation and it was against benchmarking. I do not know what it has against civil servants.