The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, said the impact assessment report by the senior management of the Legal Aid Board on its move to Caherciveen, Co Kerry, stated that most of its functions could operate effectively from there. The report said a small office had to be retained in Dublin.

Mr Jim Higgins, Fine Gael spokesman on justice, said he supported decentralisation but if ever there was ever a wrong office and an issue wrongly handled it was this one. Why did the Minister not have the decency or courtesy to consult with the board?

The Minister said he did not consult with the board before the Government's decision as it had not then been made.

Ms Jan O'Sullivan (Lab) Limerick East, said there were long waiting lists in law centres and was it not an inappropriate time to disrupt the administration of the board. Mr O'Donoghue said the operation of the law centres should not be confused with the administration of the board.