Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I appreciate the opportunity to say a few words on the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008. I am glad I was in the House to hear the profound statements of Deputies Ring and McGinley, both of whom seem to be dealing with their future political prospects. I hope Deputy Flanagan will convey my good wishes to them in that regard.

The Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008 provides for the revision of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies in accordance with the recommendations of the report of the Constituency Commission which was presented to the Ceann Comhairle in October 2007. It is appropriate to remind ourselves that the Bill also provides for the establishment of future constituency commissions, on publication by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, of its preliminary results in respect of a census of population and for the work of a commission to be completed following the publication of final population data relating to the relevant census.

I have been listening carefully to the debate thus far and it is interesting to hear the different perspectives of colleagues from all sides of the House. This is an important Bill. Opposition colleagues are entitled to make the points they have about the kind of day we are having and the kind of business we should deal with but many of their speeches have been so impressive and pertinent that I wonder why they suggested we should not have this debate. This is a good debate and there will be time for other issues to be raised on other occasions, including this evening.

I had a long discussion today with my colleague, Deputy Michael Mulcahy, who represents Crumlin, where I come from, in Dublin South-Central. We discussed Dáil constituency boundaries. It is right that they form part of this debate but we should also discuss boundaries for the forthcoming local and European elections and the effect they will have. I will take a leaf from Deputy Michael Ring's book and clarify that I will not seek a Fianna Fáil nomination for the European elections next year. I look forward to supporting my Dublin colleague, Eoin Ryan.

The European elections will be very interesting because section 8 of the Bill says it will provide for European Parliament constituencies and the number of members to be elected from Ireland by substituting a new third schedule to the European Parliament Elections Act 1997. In the context of 12 representatives from this country in the European Parliament, this provides for the reduction of one seat in the Dublin constituency and the transfer of the population of counties Longford and Westmeath from the east to the north-west constituency. Deputy Michael Ring referred to this matter so I will not dwell on it.

However, I am interested in Dublin and there is a great deal of disappointment there regarding this matter. Europe is very important to the whole country and I do not want to make a speech that focuses solely on Dublin. Nonetheless, Dublin is the capital city and it is important that it be strongly represented. It is a pity Dublin is to lose a seat but this will make for a competitive election — it is only a little over 250 days away. I wish all of the sitting MEPs in Dublin well, particularly Eoin Ryan. There is a debate to be had on the level of representation and the reduction in seats will be of concern to people. I find that as I go about my business in Dublin people are beginning to talk about the European and local elections. This debate will become more relevant as the elections approach. We should, therefore, look at it in the context of this Bill.

I was a little older than some when I was first elected to the local authority in Dublin in 1991. The local authority was subsequently divided and South Dublin County Council was founded in 1994. I remained a member of the local authority until after a Dáil election, when I stood down in favour of a colleague. I have been lucky in my Dáil career because my constituency is fairly well formed. Deputy Ring spoke of having to travel 70 or 80 miles and I know many colleagues, including those in the House at the moment, share that difficulty. However, I find that, as a Dublin-based TD who lives only eight miles from the city centre, I experience other challenges. My challenges are different from those facing colleagues who must travel 70 or 80 miles to attend meetings but sometimes it can be just as difficult getting around a densely populated urban setting such as Dublin South-West. I do not want to seem like a martyr; I am merely saying that there are other challenges that face urban-based Deputies. There are still problems but I have been lucky in how my constituency has been formed.

I listened carefully to Deputy Joe Behan as he spoke from a Wicklow perspective. I reminded him that when I first moved to Tallaght with an employer in 1969 it was part of the Dublin South constituency. I inform my Opposition colleagues that in those days there were three Fine Gael TDs there, including a good man, Richard Burke. I mention him because he was very good to me and was a fine EU Commissioner and Minister for Education. When I first attended the Dáil as a Deputy in 2002 he happened to be here, greeted me and brought me for lunch. I always remember him and the courtesy he extended me when I did not even know my way around the building.

In 1977 the new mid-county constituency was founded and the three Deputies elected were Seán Walsh and Síle de Valera for Fianna Fáil and Larry McMahon for Fine Gael. In those days the constituency stretched from Rathfarnham, through parts of Templeogue, into Tallaght and out to Blessington. Quite a few people who were originally from my constituency have moved to Blessington and any Deputies for Dublin South-West will attest that we still receive calls from Blessington. I do not say this to upset my Wicklow colleagues. To put things in perspective, places like Blessington are closer to Tallaght than to Bray. I do not mean to put pressure on my Wicklow colleagues but this illustrates that Constituency Commission reports do not always reach conclusions that everyone can understand. The people I meet at front doors certainly do not understand the decisions in this regard.

When I was first elected in 2002 parts of Firhouse had been taken from Dublin South and joined Tallaght, Templeogue and parts of Terenure in Dublin South-West. It is interesting that the subsequent Constituency Commission report referred to these boundaries, particularly on the M50 side. It observed that the M50 would act as a natural boundary for Dublin South-West. However, the commission did not follow through on this nor does the latest report. Many Members travel in that direction on their way home, to the south in particular, and Dublin South-West stretches from Walkinstown, through parts of Terenure and Templeogue, on to Firhouse and into Bohernabreena. It extends across the mountain into parts of Brittas and back down into Tallaght and the Naas Road acts as a boundary.

While it is for other people to make decisions on this issue, I often drive out of Tallaght heading for Brittas or County Wicklow and pass houses that are located in the Dublin Mid-West constituency, which forms part of Lucan. Brittas itself is divided, as parts of it lie within Dublin South-West while the remainder is represented by my colleagues in Dublin Mid-West. One wonders how such decisions about the boundaries are taken.

I put this in the context of listening to colleagues discussing the changes within counties Kerry or Limerick or, as did Deputy Michael Kennedy, about north Dublin. Clearly, the Constituency Commission has thrown up different kinds of problems for them than it has for me. However, although my country-based colleagues may not greatly appreciate it, this throws up challenges for parts of my constituency. It throws up confusion for some constituents who are unsure exactly where is the boundary or what constituency they are in. This presents a challenge for all Members and it is right to say this during a debate on the Constituency Commission's report. I repeat that I consider my Dáil boundary to be reasonable. However, given population changes and with further development, certainly in west Tallaght, Ballycullen and elsewhere, future boundary commissions, perhaps even the next one, may make some decisions in that regard, as well as making some significant changes.

I also wish to speak about significant changes in the context of the forthcoming local elections, which are due to be held next June and which will be challenging in political terms. I already have made the point that I was proud to be a member of the local authority from 1991. When I was first selected, I represented Tallaght-Rathcoole. When I was re-elected in 1999, I represented Tallaght Central. Those Members who are familiar with Tallaght know that at present, there are ten seats in two electoral areas in Tallaght, namely, Tallaght South and Tallaght Central. The proposals from the Constituency Commission on the local elections will change them into two separate new constituencies, called Tallaght South and Tallaght Central, which are five-seaters and six-seaters, respectively.

Tallaght Central stretches almost from the County Kildare border at Old Kingswood on the Naas Road, through the Tallaght west estates, on into Springfield where I live, down through parts of Tallaght towards what is understood at present to be the Terenure electoral area. As Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh will understand, it then continues down Wainsfort Road into Fortfield and people who are represented by Deputy Ó Snodaigh and other colleagues. When knocking on doors in such areas, Deputy Ó Snodaigh will be telling people they are in Tallaght Central. The Constituency Commission has thrown up the kind of challenge that has nothing to do with community development because local authority boundaries, like any boundary, should have some meaning. While I do not wish to be controversial by talking about parts of Dublin South-Central, colleagues from all parties will be obliged to stretch themselves in that fashion.

I have been surprised there has not been a reaction thus far from the communities to calling such a huge electoral area Tallaght Central. It will cause problems for colleagues and while I will not predict the outcome of the elections, it is a six-seater and it will be interesting to learn how it will work out. Such a constituency will give rise to challenges about how many seats will be won at one end of it, in this case Tallaght, and the other. As it breaches Dáil constituency boundaries, it will make for quite a challenge and debate. I have been surprised there has not been more community reaction. As someone who came from a strong community background and who strongly believes in representing local people on local issues, the work should be about ensuring proper community development and cohesion. Everyone has difficulties and problems when representing different communities. This certainly is the case in my constituency. However, I believe the new Tallaght Central electoral area that has been thrown up by the Constituency Commission will be particularly difficult and it will be interesting to learn how it works out.

While people may think politicians do not look forward to elections, they always are interesting and demanding. Many of my colleagues already are counting off the 250-odd days to the election and are looking forward to them.

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