Dr. Eoin O'Malley:

I do not know enough about the general municipal allocation to comment on that. The Deputy said that he is concerned about the balance of power between city and the county. It is unlikely that we would have 21 city councillors ganging up against 19 county councillors. That is probably not the way politics works. Obviously, things do work on a geographical basis but I am not sure that they would go so strongly against party lines that the Oireachtas should be concerned that the county would not be listened to in this. The numbers of people living in the city is somewhat greater than in the county and the council will want to look to satisfy the city voters. I do not believe that any mayor would get elected who ignores the county voters.