Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

The thrust of the amendment is fine but there is a boundary issue I wish to bring to the Minister's attention. I am sure it refers to other city and county situations but this is one with which I am familiar because it relates to Waterford city.

Waterford City Council is building houses in County Kilkenny, which it rents. As the amendment is framed, it means that the writ of people who are just outside the borough boundary in Waterford city, will run as far as Castlecomer and Moneenroe in north Kilkenny, whereas the writ of people in the adjoining areas of the city such as the Ferrybank area of Waterford, would not run. I am not sure about the issue raised by Deputy Flanagan, as to whether it would be more sensible to have a general type of appointment for peace commissioners but from time to time I find it difficult to locate a peace commissioner in a particular area and there is a need to send somebody a distance to find one. It is not logical that, for instance, people can be appointed as peace commissioners in south Kilkenny who cannot operate in the interests of people just across the border in Waterford.

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