Like many of the other Deputies, I am still awaiting progress.
Can the Minister explain why in December 1999 he promised major decentralisation and why there has been no advance since? At that time the Minister stated that we would have a programme of decentralisation that would be more radical than all that had happened before. There is nothing radical about absolute inertia. Can the Minister say why in October 2000, within ten months of that commitment and in response to my oral and written parliamentary questions, he stated that the Government would be in a position to take decisions on the programme by the end of 2000? It is written in the Official Report of the House.
Will the Minister tell the House what happened between that time, that commitment given in October 2000 and November 2002, when he said for the first time what he has now repeated in response to my question? He stated that he could not say when the Government would take a decision. What happened in that period of time, from the time of the Minister's enthusiasm, his stated intent and his statement that it would be a radical move on his part which would facilitate the transfer of significant numbers to the order of 10,000 civil servants to new locations in different parts of the State?
When the Minister talks about spatial strategy will he recognise and confirm the strong case for Monaghan, a hub town? Is he in a position to confirm that it will be included in the list of those towns that will be welcome hosts for many of the civil servants and their families who will be deployed to the provinces?