I will take account of the national spatial strategy, which is in the course of preparation and will be published shortly. If I were to engage in what the Deputy terms stroke politics, I would have dealt with the matter in the way alluded to by Deputy Bradford, which has been, I must confess, the history of decentralisation. I have often referred to the compelling case made for County Wexford to have decentralisation to two places during the term of office of the last Government. That, of course, had nothing to with the fact that Deputies Yates and Howlin were Government Ministers at the time. I am sure there was no connection, but other people might not think that.
What I did commit to was that there should not be a definitive list of criteria against which applications would be measured and if they did not meet those criteria they would be excluded. I was not prepared to rule any centre in or, more importantly, out. I gave a commitment to this House that I would not engage in stroke politics in this area because it involves people's lives and careers, and considerable benefit to the locations involved.
There are many reasons for decentralisation which relate to the social partners, the locations and good planning. For those reasons I have time to deliberate. If Deputy McDowell amends the Constitution to allow me total powers in deciding everything, I might be able to do what he wants. There are many aspects to be taken into account.