Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Deputy Jimmy Deenihan. I echo the sentiments of previous speakers. We are debating something today that should have been debated long ago. It is not a priority. The commission's report was published last October but we are only seeing the Bill a year later. At the same time, the health service is malfunctioning. Women are worrying about their lives, people are dying and the economy is on its knees yet we have set aside at least an hour or two to debate this Bill. We should be debating issues of relevance to the daily lives of people in terms of health and jobs. However, that is not what we are doing. We should not be discussing today a Bill that should have been dealt with months ago.

While recognising the independence of the commission and its findings, in particular in regard to the Limerick East constituency which I represent, it appears unusual that the people of Limerick are to be divided between three constituencies rather than two. The current constituencies are Limerick East and Limerick West and it is proposed to divide Limerick into three constituencies, namely, Limerick city, Limerick and Kerry North-West Limerick.

Our job is to represent the people who elect us. More than 17,000 voters in the Limerick West constituency are to be transferred to the constituency of Limerick. People are upset they will no longer be represented by the representatives of Limerick East with whom they have dealt for decades. I and, I have no doubt, other representatives from the Limerick East constituency, will continue to represent these people although they will not be in a position to vote for us at the next election.

The Limerick West constituency will be known as the constituency of Limerick. More than 13,000 of the population of Limerick West will be transferred to the constituency of Kerry North-West Limerick. These people also feel disenfranchised. What has happened is that Kerry, in terms of population, could not sustain two three-seater constituencies. The commission was directed in its terms of reference to ensure, where practicable, constituencies were retained within county boundaries. Transferring a population of 13,000 from one constituency to a constituency in another county does not make sense.

Deputy Ciarán Lynch stated earlier that the constituency of Limerick West will fall between two local authority areas, Kerry and Limerick, which will cause difficulties in operational terms. People are anxious. Areas such as Kilteely, Cappamore, Doon, Pallasgreen, Oolagh, Moroe, Herbertstown, Hospital and Caherconlish currently part of Limerick East will be part of a new constituency. Clearly, Limerick was sacrificed to ensure the retention of the two three-seater constituencies in Kerry. I mean no disrespect to the people of Kerry who are great neighbours. However, given it is stated in the terms of reference that constituencies should be retained in county boundaries, one must question this decision.

In summary, we should not be debating this issue today. There are far more important things happening at the moment. One such issue was raised earlier by way of private notice question. Issues of concern are those relating to health and people's worries about the economy going forward in terms of employment. I will continue to represent the people of Limerick East who will be part of the new constituency of Limerick. They gave me a mandate to represent them and I will continue to do so.

I regret that this issue is being debated in the House today. There are far more important issues we could be debating. It is difficult for the people of the eastern part of Limerick to accept what is happening. However, we accept the independence of the commission.

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