The Government's decentralisation plans were sharply criticised by the Labour spokesman on rural affairs, Mr Brian O'Shea.
"The decentralisation programme in general has all the signs of something that was made up on the back of a cigarette packet in that there was no prior agreement with the unions and no consultation with anybody," he said.
The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív, insisted that the programme would go ahead. "On decentralisation, we appear to be getting a funny message from the opposition. It reminds me somewhat of Sir Humphrey Appleby in the Yes Prime Minister series: one never opposes anything, but instead puts all sorts of barriers in the way and hopes it never happens."
He told Mr O'Shea that progress on the proposed decentralisation of staff of Foras na Gaeilge to Gweedore, Co Donegal, was subject to and awaited the agreement of the North-South ministerial council.
