Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

Senator O'Meara made a number of comments. I recall that when I was in the House the last time, her colleague, Senator McDowell, referred to the decentralisation of Departments to God awful places with dingy pubs around the country. If that is the Dublin and the Labour Party mindset, we have a major problem.

In fairness, everyone agrees with voluntary participation in decentralisation. In terms of the hype that the Government should have consulted, if it had attempted to consult each Department in advance of this very ambitious declaration to move 9,500 civil servants, it would still be talking about it. The consultation has taken place. At least 35 new people apply each week to decentralise. Given the announcement made last week, civil servants and those in the agencies are now 100% sure that the Government will deliver on this project and throngs will sign up to move. The Government is fully committed to taking care of the people left behind. They will be directed to new Departments or to new jobs. Their jobs will be guaranteed.

I am delighted with the debate and the fact so many Senators contributed. It has been very positive and I am delighted with the massive success so far and the progress we have made. In terms of hostages to fortune, the report states clearly — the OPW has put its neck on the line — when the different projects will begin and end. As I said, all will be completed by 2008 and by "completed" I mean that locations will be fitted out and ready for civil servants to move in. I have no doubt the Department of Finance and the Civil Service will have put all the personnel in place and that we will have a very successful decentralisation scheme.

In regard to those agencies or Departments which have not been included in the first move, as Senator O'Rourke said, we are moving the big offices and Departments, the tough ones. It will be a lot easier for the rest to come on stream and I have no doubt some of them will have moved well before 2008. I look forward to the very successful implementation of this scheme. Again, I thank Senators for their contributions.