The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith told the Dáil it was "patent nonsense" to suggest that there was a developing crisis in the Civil Defence Board.
Fine Gael's defence spokesman, Mr Dinny McGinley demanded that the Minister clarify his role in the dispute with the chairman of the Civil Defence Board, Dr Michael Ryan, whom the Minister was seeking to remove "from his position as chairman of the board and as a member", in a row over decentralisation.
In an adjournment debate last night, Mr Smith told the Dáil he was involved in "a course of action relating to position of the chairman of the Civil Defence Board. I believe that I have a valid and strong reason for the course of action, which I am embarked upon.
"As this process is ongoing it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment at this stage. However, I expect that the matter will come to a conclusion with in the next two weeks."
Mr McGinley, who raised the issue, added that "the decentralisation of staff from Dublin to Roscrea has now run into difficulties due to the fact that the minister is insisting that there is no consultation with the board on the type of accommodation being offered.
"This gung-ho attitude runs contrary to stated government policy on decentralisation and could ultimately prove damaging to the operation of the Civil Defence in Ireland."
Mr McGinley claimed that the Minister, "in his haste to get the Civil Defence headquarters relocated to his hometown" had apparently "placed a much higher priority on local political advantage than on engaging in a meaningful dialogue with the Civil Defence Board". The Fine Gael TD said that the Minister in "pursuing decentralisation in a manner that lacks consideration or consultation, has squandered the good relationship between his Department and the Civil Defence Board.
"And now this relationship has deteriorated to such an extent that legal advice is being taken and the chairman, that the Minister had such confidence in, is being squeezed out of his position."
But Mr Smith said he was was a strong advocate of the Civil Defence and believed that it should be properly equipped and € 7 million had been spent on it. The decentralisation of the organisation to Roscrea "is in its final stages and the organisation will be moving to its new offices there this summer".
