Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

Normally I welcome the opportunity to contribute to debates, but I am not sure of the purpose of this debate. Why we are having statements when the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has told us that drafting of the Bill is at an advanced stage? That says more about the lack of Bills to be debated before the summer recess than about anything else. In his speech, the Minister attempted to lecture us about a "need for real action" on this issue. He even quoted the judgment of Mr. Justice Frank Clarke, mentioning the urgent constitutional imperative of the Oireachtas to deal with this disparity. Where is the urgency of the Government in response to that judgment? It certainly is not evident by having statements in the House. If there was a real need for action, then there would be no talking shop exercise this afternoon. Instead, there would be a Bill before us to address the issues and to which we could table amendments and on which we could vote. I agree that action is needed but the responsibility for that action lies with the Minister.

I have a vested interest in this matter, and this report has a fairly drastic effect on me personally and on the constituency I represent. The electoral commission decided, perhaps not in its wisdom, to implement changes that have left a great degree of anger and confusion in my constituency, especially in south Offaly. They may be rejoicing in other parts of the constituency about the way things have turned out. I was surprised to hear the Minister say the changes are small and involve a relatively minor relocation of population. He cited the constituency of Laois-Offaly as an example. Clearly that is now the perceived Government view, and I assume he speaks for all Government parties, despite the efforts of some in Deputy Kitt's party to give a contrary view.

This commission was given its terms of reference by the outgoing Government last year. The anomalies that have been thrown up could have been reduced had clearer terms of reference been drawn. I agree the Constitution takes precedence, but why then has the Government tried to create the impression that this is not the case? Perhaps the Government has considered that the best way to resolve this would be to include the issue of county boundaries in the Constitution. However, I doubt that the Government will call for a constitutional referendum to deal with that issue.

The Minister has a responsibility to bring this legislation forward. He confirmed for us today that the Taoiseach had no real basis for his suggestion that this House could make changes. He is espousing the Government view that precedent should not be broken. If that is the Government view, then I am not sure what we are trying to attempt with this exercise. What happened to the Taoiseach's all-party committee and his need for consensus? What happened his feeling, as voiced by one of his local councillors in Offaly, that "as an elected representative he should have some input into it"? Has that view changed? Is precedent going to be the order of the day? Perhaps the Minister has finally found a voice and realises that if he hands the power to decide constituencies to Fianna Fáil, his party will never make another electoral gain.

It is little coincidence that Fianna Fáil TDs and councillors around the country have been spinning the same line on the issue. This line was also spun by their leader. Perhaps he will join in this exercise today and make a statement outlining the changes he proposes. How 166 TDs would ever reach a consensus on this is beyond me, but there is no doubt that the Government would have an in-built majority, which is the Fianna Fáil style of consensus. It is their way, or no way. Fianna Fáil politicians have toured the areas affected telling people they will fix the problem if the other parties agree, yet they have offered no solution to the problem. Perhaps they should start by telling the truth that they have a majority in this House and can do what they want anyway. It is not the Opposition they need to back their proposal, but rather the three Government parties and the few Independents. Together they can vote in or out whatever Bills they want. The Government accepts very few amendments put forward by the Opposition, so our view is ignored when it suits, but we are also wanted for consensus when it suits.

The Taoiseach found the report we are discussing to be anomalous, but the Government still appointed the judge who chaired that commission to be chair of the commission charged with informing the public about the Lisbon referendum, something the Taoiseach said is the top priority. If somebody acted outside his or her on the electoral commission, should he or she be allowed carry out this vitally important role? Perhaps the Minister could clarify the Government's thinking on this.

Let there be no doubt that the people of south Offaly want to continue to vote in the constituency of Laois-Offaly. Let there be no doubt that I also want them to be able to vote there. It lacks common sense to breach a provincial boundary. I am one of the worst affected TDs by this decision, but I do not pretend the commission should take my position into its considerations. However, the members of the commission should listen to the people from the area. The area to be changed to Tipperary North forms part of the Birr electoral area, which I served in Offaly County Council from 1999 and which my father represented from 1967. Shinrone is the heart of the area and has been my parents' family home for many generations. I have a strong allegiance to the area and have enjoyed serving the people there. Regardless of this report, I will continue to serve the people in the area but would like the opportunity to do so in an official capacity as well.

I know the people of south Offaly and they have no allegiance to Tipperary North. They find it incongruous that they should be shunted into that area. It also leads to a great deal of confusion. If the Government fell and a general election was to be held on the same day as local and European elections, who would be responsible for ordering the polling booths on that day and who would be the returning officers? Would they be from Tipperary North or from Offaly? People would be voting for Offaly County Council in local elections, in the constituency of Ireland East or Leinster in European elections and in North Tipperary, which is a different area of responsibility, in respect of the general election.

They are also being asked to vote for candidates who have no affinity with the area although this can be built up.

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