Ahern dismisses suggestions of internal revolt

THE Taoiseach and Tánaiste yesterday played down suggestions of a roll back on the Government's decentralisation plans.

Dismissing suggestions of a ministerial and backbench revolt against the plan to move 10,000 public servants down the country, Mr Ahern said decentralisation might run behind time but would still be fully implemented.

Denying that policy was collapsing, Ms Harney said most targets would be reached within the timeframe.

Ahead of the start of two days of discussions by an Oireachtas committee into the relocation plans, a number of other Cabinet members threw their weight behind the plan by backing up the views of Mr Ahern and Ms Harney.

"I never get too excited about things. It's a bit like Christmas, it always comes. Just keep on going and do it as quick as we can and I think we will do it very quick," the Taoiseach said.

The Tánaiste was equally adamant the programme would proceed as planned.

"I am confident that the vast majority of it will be done, yes. Very confident in fact. Already nearly 3,000 civil servants have indicated a willingness to move to the locations. I believe the bulk of the target will be reached in a short timeframe.

"And I believe if we don't reach it quickly, the uncertainty that hangs over the public service will be damaging to the public service and damaging to the Government," she said.

Minister for Social Welfare Mary Coughlan said her department hoped to complete its decentralisation within the prescribed timeframe.

"Naturally enough we can't give a determination on something as large as this decentralisation programme. But it is going to run and I think we have to appreciate people's concerns on both side of the argument," she said.

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuiv said the decentralisation of his department to Co Mayo was going ahead and would be completed within the next three years.

Minister Ó Cuív said it was important that there be no row back or fundamental change in the objective of the Government to introduce radical decentralisation around the country.

The minister said most, but perhaps not all, of the Government departments and agencies which have been targeted would be decentralised within the three years.

IMPACT trade union, which represents 1,600 staff earmarked for decentralisation, said it would not be enough to simply implement existing decentralisation proposals over a longer time period.

Welcoming calls from Government circles for the building of consensus on the future of decentralisation, IMPACT national secretary Peter Nolan said a new timetable was necessary, but not sufficient, to develop workable decentralisation.

Fine Gael finance spokesman Richard Bruton said the Taoiseach and Tánaiste had presided over a "decentralisation circus".

"It was Tom Parlon who turned decentralisation into a circus with his 'Welcome to Parlon Country' but he couldn't have done it without the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, Environment Minister Martin Cullen and Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy. This fearsome foursome made up the Cabinet Sub-Committee and were the architects of the present decentralisation programme," he said.