Decentralising the overseas aid division of the Department of Foreign Affairs to Limerick is nothing compared to other EU member states who are moving "very serious functions" to Africa, Asia and other places, Minister of State Conor Lenihan insisted yesterday.
Mr Lenihan rejected Fine Gael claims that the proposed move to Limerick of Development Co-operation Ireland (DCI) was a "fiasco", or that he was "massaging the figures" in terms of the numbers of officials willing to move.
But he acknowledged that there was an "issue" in relation to senior management.
The division's director general had indicated he would transfer to Limerick to lead the progress, but of the other 10 senior management members "none has indicated a willingness to transfer", Mr Lenihan added.
Fine Gael's foreign Affairs spokesman Bernard Allen said because only 26 of DCI's 123 staff, some 23 per cent, were willing to move to Limerick the management of the issue was a "fiasco".
Mr Lenihan said 43 people within the department were willing to go, representing 34 per cent of staff requirement.
"It is quite trendy internationally in Holland, Britain and in other countries to decentralise to the field," the Minister of State added.
