Cuts a 'menu' - Gormley

The McCarthy report was just a "menu of choices" from which the Government could pick what it would implement Minister for Environment John Gormley said yesterday.

The menu was "unpalatable" Mr Gormley said and difficult decisions would have to be made, but each Minister would have to consider how the report affected their department before any decisions were made.

He also said the report had no bearing on his own White Paper on local government reform.

"This is a set of proposals. We're not engaged yet in a budgetary process so we have to ensure we look at all the proposals in a very objective way. We're not including or excluding anything at the moment."

The report was also a way of generating debate in relation to economic recovery, he said.

"They are only proposals. These are a menu of choices many of them unpalatable, but they are set out in very stark form. But I think it is a way of generating debate, not just among the general public, certainly around the cabinet table, but within my own party as well."

In relation to his own department Mr Gormley said Mr McCarthy had not given any real indication of what savings would be made if the number of local authorities was reduced.

He added that report would have no influence on the White Paper on local Government reform.

"He hasn't actually put in real figures on what sort of savings could be achieved in relation to that [local authority cuts]. That's not where I'm coming from where I'm coming from is actually empowering local government, ensuring local councillors can operate efficiently, that's my focus. His focus is on expenditure cuts and that wasn't the focus of the White Paper nor is it going to be."

Mr Gormley would not be drawn on whether any of the report's recommendations were unacceptable to the Green Party, but he said if the party voted by a two thirds majority not to continue in Government, it would leave the coalition.