Today's Business:
- Order of Business.
- Report and final stages of the Broadcasting (Funding) Bill 2003.
- International Development Association (Amendment) Bill.
- Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Bill 2002.
- Budget debate.
- Questions to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen.
Voices in the House
We did not commission an outside consultancy report on this matter.
- The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, on decentralisation
The House should note that this was the first decision made by the Government without hiring a consultant.
- Mr Pat Rabbitte
I regard what has gone on in the constituency of Laois-Offaly as a release of the creative tensions resulting from the stresses of multi-seat constituency politics. Deputy Parlon could not have broken the code [of conduct] as no Minister of State knew anything about decentralisation good, bad or indifferent.
- Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy
Was the Minister of State lying to his constituents when he said he had delivered decentralisation?
- Ms Joan Burton, Labour
I understand from sources close to Leinster House that on the Tuesday night before the Budget was announced, Deputy Parlon happened to fall into certain company in a hostelry not far from here. Someone cottoned on to the fact that something might happen with decentralisation the next day. That was the extent of the Minister of State's knowledge.
- Mr McCreevy
I say the best of luck to the Minister of State. If all Deputies were up as early in the morning, Fianna Fáil would have 98 seats at every general election.
- Mr McCreevy