Tánaiste Mary Harney defended the Government's decentralisation policy in face of strong criticism from Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins. "It has always been voluntary and it is also very popular. One of the most frequent questions I am asked by many civil servants is when it will happen."

Mr Higgins claimed the Government's "opportunistic and cynical approach", as epitomised by Minister of State Tom Parlon, would leave communities cheated.

"Is it any wonder that it would leave thousands of public sector workers as enthusiastic for it as veteran Fine Gaelers dragooned into playing the anti-treatyites in The Wind that Shakes the Barley?"

He asked Ms Harney what she had to say to the thousands of public servants who had opted to leave but were now in limbo. "May we have an honest debate from the Government for a change on the mess which has been created?" Ms Harney repeated the Government was committed to decentralisation.