Designations will tax understanding of humble taxpayer

GREAT manoeuvrings around the Cabinet table on the tax designations finally agreed this week. It all started with proposals to designate Knock Airport - not unconnected of course with the scramble to hold on to Fine Gael seats in that part of the world. Initially, it looked as if the Knock plan would, so to speak, get the knock - no doubt the ever watchful officials in the Department of Finance were none too pleased.

But then a push came from Fine Gael, there were a few well calculated media leaks, and the project was back on the agenda.

Given EU rules which frown on treating one area different from another and - ahem - electoral considerations, the pressure grew to extend the designation to all regional airports.

And so it happened, allowing Dick Spring to trumpet the designation of Faranfore, Enda Kenny to grab the glory down in Knock and countless other Government TDs to speak in the weeks ahead about the "thousands" of jobs now coming on stream.

Meanwhile, the designation of Finglas and Gallenstown was happily announced by two local Labour TDs, Roisin Shortall and Joe Costello. A plan to designate a part of DCU turned into one to offer incentives to companies investing in any of the campuses. Happily for local minister Brendan Howlin, Rosslare appears to have slipped in at the last minute. The only wonder is that Ruairi Quinn did not slip in a bit of Sandymount.

And then they tell us it is all an example of the well thought out implementation of clear Government policy! If they don't hold the election soon it is only a matter of time before half the State will be designated.