John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

It is important somebody would fulfil that function in the Seanad. In the debate last year, Senator Leyden stated he was delighted Roscommon town had received the 230 Land Registry jobs it has clearly not received. He went on to state: "It is a great boost to myself.....every cumann member throughout County Roscommon and all the supporters of Fianna Fáil." The Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, will be interested to hear of this boost for the Fianna Fáil Party. Senator Leyden continued:

No Government in the history of the State has decentralised 10,500 jobs to the regions. [The Government has not done so either.] This will be implemented within three years. In the lifetime of the Government, all this work will be completed and the staff will be in place.

This is rubbish. The best example of how Senator Leyden, in particular, was wrong on this issue is his statement: "This development....will help us as we face into the local elections. In Roscommon we have five good candidates and we intend to get four out of the five seats." Fianna Fáil did not get four out of five seats.