The candidates in Saturday's South Tipperary by-election faced each other in a public debate in Clonmel last night.
Decentralisation, the National Roads Authority (NRA) and compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) produced the strongest contributions in the debate, organised and broadcast by Tipp FM radio. All four candidates criticised the NRA for its consultation process with local communities.
Senator Tom Hayes, the Fine Gael candidate, described the NRA as "dictators".
He said the NRA had an important task because roads needed upgrading, but he said "the way that they carry out their activities - they are dictators, the way they actually do it. Getting information out of them is like getting blood from a turnip".
Mr Michael Maguire, the Fianna Fail candidate, said he was very disappointed with the NRA. "The CPO, I think, is outdated. The farmers are not getting enough compensation for their land and neither are the people who are living in dwellings."
He added: "We have agreed with an Oireachtas committee to look at it and they will look at the whole aspect of the NRA and the way they deal with people."
The Workers' and Unemployed Action group's candidate, Ms Phil Prendergast, said there should be proper consultation with people.
Labour's Mr Denis Landy said the "NRA have done badly in selling themselves and selling the idea of the development of Ireland".
Earlier yesterday, the Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, called on the Taoiseach to "spell out to the public his apparent decision to decentralise a Government department to Tipperary." This followed claims by Mr Maguire that he had a personal commitment from the Taoiseach that civil servants would be decentralised to Tipperary.
Fianna Fail claimed there was nothing new in Mr Maguire's statement because the Taoiseach had said Tipperary would benefit from decentralisation when he visited the county before the writ was moved in May for the by-election. "As of yet, we cannot say which area in south Tipperary will benefit but a decision will be announced after the end of July," a Fianna Fail spokesman added.