Harney says Carlow move will go ahead

The Tánaiste, Mary Harney, has insisted that her department's move to Carlow will go ahead, despite opposition from staff.

An overwhelming majority of staff at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment are reportedly opposed to the Government’s plan to transfer their jobs to Carlow.

Reports this morning said a survey of the workers found that the vast majority had no interest in moving to Carlow as part of the Government’s decentralisation plans.

Only 69 of the 503 respondents to the survey said they supported the move.

Mary Harney, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, is one of the main supporters of the decentralisation plan.

Responding to this morning’s reports, she insisted that the move to Carlow would go ahead despite the opposition.

“If we show the kind of determination that we had in making the decision, we will achieve the targets,” she said.

“It’ll be difficult, I have no doubt about that, but in the past we’ve had no difficulty fulfilling our decentralisation options.”