Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Most of it is under way. I am due to officially open offices in Kilrush and Listowel. I will not cut sods as the offices have been built and are occupied. A problem has arisen in the semi-State sector, in which I previously worked. The flexibility that allows civil servants to move from one Department to another is not available for employees of semi-State bodies. The issues surrounding decentralisation are more difficult than they were 20 or 30 years ago because most homes now have two earners. Nevertheless, many people want to move. An individual who worked in my office in a previous Department moved out of Dublin as part of an advanced party — I will not be specific about the location — but has had to return to the capital to be promoted. The decentralisation process will settle down and in a few years we will agree that the current wave of decentralisation was hugely successful, irrespective of whether it is implemented in full.

I apologise for wandering from the subject. I thank Senators for agreeing to process the Bill quickly. The wording for the amendments to section 19 will be available on Wednesday.