Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is disputing the argument that there is a connection between the elected representative and the person he or she represents, which is the very essence of democracy. I am sure the Deputy is not attacking it.

There would be an electorate of more than 170,000 in a seven seat constituency. However, that is not the best or most practical way to proceed. There would be an issue with regard to distances in handling a constituency of that size. Deputy Harkin is also an MEP and can attest to the practical problems which arise.

There is, however, a more important point, given the current debate. There could be a potential sense of political alienation in such circumstances. There is already a sense of ennui, a point on which Deputy O'Dowd touched. There is a problem if we say that the old constituency boundaries which were drawn up between the 12th and 17th centuries, should form the basis on which we should deal with today's democratic units. We would risk alienating many and create a sense of futility with regard to politics. Deputy O'Dowd is right.

Bray, County Wicklow, has a population of 32,000 and is larger than some of the constituencies about which we are talking. Parts of the town are in Deputy Gilmore's constituency. The identification of area is changing, the point made by Deputy O'Dowd. If Deputies were to think long and hard about the issue, they would realise that in suggesting a much larger constituency, they would contribute to a greater sense of alienation and removal of the population from their political representatives.

We must be fair to the commission. I am angered at the suggestion that it has somehow been motivated by political prejudice. That does a disservice to its members. Before throwing mud of that nature, one should think of the implications. When one chooses to throw mud at those who have served the people well and operated within the law, one undermines the very democratic principles that should——

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