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Latest Developments on Decentralisation

Government parties fail to attend decentralisation meeting

Date Released: 02 Feb 2007

SIPTU Dublin Regional Secretary Patricia King has condemned the failure of any Dublin TDs from Fianna Fail or the Progressive Democrats to accept invitations to last night’s meeting on decentralisation. Representatives of all the other Dail parties gave commitments to the union that they would review the decision to relocate specialist state agencies if they were in power after the next election. The representative of the Independent group in the Dail, Finian McGrath, said the group would also support SIPTU’s position in the Dail.

“Over 300 people attended the meeting in Liberty Hall last night to express their concerns about the proposed relocation of the headquarters of 16 specialist semi-state agencies around the country. I find it amazing that not one TD from Fianna Fail or the PDs attended. I do not know if it was out of cowardice, or arrogance, or a combination of both, but it shows an astounding contempt for their own constituents.

Among TDs who did turn up and pledge support for a review were the Fine Gael Deputy Leader, Richard Bruton, the Labour Party spokeswoman on Finance Joan Burton, Dan Boyle of the Green Party, Aongas O Snodaigh of Sinn Fein and Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins.





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