John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

If the remark was incorrect, I withdraw it. The perception among the general public was that the posters and leaflets were printed before the announcement was made in the budget.

I applaud the Minister of State and the Minister. They have clearly ensured that the Laoighis-Offaly constituency will be looked after. However, it is obvious from the latest news on decentralisation that the proposals as they currently stand are driven by Ministers.

Taking Munster as a region, only Kerry and Limerick are in the early movers category. That is clearly because the Ministers who, as Deputies, represent those constituencies are looking after their own back yards. It is not appropriate, fair or right that Tipperary town, regarded as the poorest town in the country, which Senator Mansergh represents and to which he lives adjacent, will not be looked after under decentralisation because it does not have a Minister representing it.