Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the committee for letting me speak to the issue. I missed the deadline to submit an amendment for this Stage, but it is my intention to bring one forward on Report Stage about the naming of the two new constituencies born out of Dublin Fingal, namely, Dublin Fingal west and Dublin Fingal east. Dublin Fingal west is hugely problematic. No point on the compass would accurately reflect that constituency. It is heavily weighted with towns on the east coast such as Skerries, Balbriggan, Rush and Lusk, but if we go down to towns new to the constituency like Santry and Northwood, as well as Meakstown and Finglas, which I represented as a councillor, the constituency name will make very little sense. It is a problem. Dublin Fingal east is the constituency I, and probably the other two Deputies here, hope to run in. That name probably makes more sense and I would be happy to leave that. Deputy Farrell might have a different idea, but I believe Dublin Fingal west should remain as Dublin Fingal to have that Fingal identity of the north county. It would take in everywhere and then we would not have that problem. We need to ensure all areas feel connected to their constituency. They feel connected to Dublin Fingal, so we should keep it. For the new constituency, we can keep the name Dublin Fingal east or rename it Dublin Fingal central. I am interested in the views of the Minister and Deputy Farrell on this. Would they be open to some change in name? Those who have seen it have laughed at it and asked whether it is north or south, because it is definitely not west. It needs a change.