Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

On what basis did the Minister of State make his decision on the selection of the 20 moves? Some are the headquarters of Government Departments but prioritisation ranks very low in the Minister of State's vocabulary.

Senator O'Rourke said we moan and groan about towns that have been left out. The people who live in those towns and who expected development and jobs in those areas rightly feel aggrieved. In the next statement she said people did not want to go. They were her words, not mine. There are examples of towns which were allocated Civil Service and public service jobs but where there was a poor indication of interest. Given that the Minister of State has responsibility for this area, what has he done to consult with those people who may wish to move?

Throughout his contribution the Minister of State referred to OPW and the factors affecting delivery. I have great admiration for the OPW. When it does a job it does it well but when has it delivered a project, a building or otherwise, on time and within budget? There are difficulties with the targets set by the Minister of State. It is not always the fault of the OPW that these delays occur. The OPW did a fantastic job on Farmleigh House. It is an ace in the country and the work carried out is a credit to the OPW. Once more, targets have been set for the OPW, but it cannot be blamed if it does not meet these targets. The Minister of State should be honest and admit there will be a time variation. He should consult with the people whose lives will be affected. This time last year, he welcomed them to Parlon country. Who was he welcoming? Only he knew about the move the night before the budget.

The Minister of State first politicised decentralisation. He was in a mad rush, which was political strokery. Anyone who says that Fine Gael is politicising decentralisation is wrong. The Minister of State is the person who did so and he must quickly redress this.