Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to discuss the changes to the electoral boundaries. Since the independent Constituency Commission was first established in the late 1970s, the decisions of successive commissions have been accepted in full for Dáil, European and local authority elections. The independence of the Constituency Commission must be maintained.

Many speakers have referred to changes to electoral boundaries. One can always argue, irrespective of the changes or decisions made, that more appropriate boundaries are available. However, we must work within certain parameters and accept the recommendations of the Constituency Commission.

On a wider issue, the accuracy or otherwise of the electoral register has been discussed many times in committee and the House. It is vital for the maintenance of the integrity of the electoral process to make serious efforts to ensure the register is up to date. The census is the basis on which the Constituency Commission performs its function and census information must be used to ensure the electoral register is accurate.

The boundaries of my constituency of Cork North-West and other constituencies in the county have changed significantly over the years. Experts, including those working in the community and voluntary sector, have attended political meetings to express an opinion on which areas should and should not be included in various constituencies. The difficulty in these circumstances is deciding where to draw the line. My constituency spans the full spectrum of Irish life. It has a large urban area as well as a remote, rural hinterland and will soon include Ballincollig, a large satellite town of Cork city. In addition to the commuter belt, it includes villages and towns such as Rockchapel and Charleville and rural areas extending almost as far as Dunmanway. It includes both rich agricultural land and more marginal land. While some will argue that constituencies should be either rural or urban in character, my constituency, with its urban and rural mix, mirrors Irish life much more accurately than purely urban constituencies.

I note Deputy Ciarán Lynch has joined the debate.

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