Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

I concur with my Limerick colleague, Deputy John Cregan's references to the changes affecting our mutual constituency and to the fact that Limerick will lose a Deputy. I have some doubts as to the reason for the decision and I agree with Deputy Cregan that it would seem more logical to transform Kerry into a five-seater constituency rather than doing something that will significantly affect the people of County Limerick.

I refer to page 23 of the report. The statistics suggest that Kerry overall was more over-represented than Limerick, with the percentage variance from national average population per Deputy being minus 9.37% in Kerry North, minus 8.13% in Kerry South but minus 7.42% in Limerick East and minus 7.08% in Limerick West. If I am reading the figures correctly, it appears to suggest that logically it would have been better to reduce the representation in Kerry rather than in Limerick, if the representation was to be reduced. I do not understand the logic of the report's recommendation and there is nothing in the recommendation that explains the reason for it. I would have thought that in such situations an explanation should be provided. There does not seem to be any particular geographical boundaries to suggest the commission decided to basically chop up Limerick West and put part of it into Kerry, take a significant portion of Limerick East and put it into what is now Limerick and take a seat from my own constituency which was Limerick East, a five-seater that is now becoming a four-seater. There is no logic to it.

I draw attention to a debate in the House between the current Taoiseach and our party leader, Deputy Gilmore, when the Taoiseach who was Tánaiste at the time specifically said that this was in our hands. This is also clear from a reading of the document as it states:

The final determination of the constituencies for Dáil Éireann is a matter for the Oireachtas to prescribe in legislation. The Commission's role is advisory.

The Supreme Court judgment quoted in the report refers to Article 16.2.3° of the Constitution:

The sub-clause recognises that exact parity in the ratio between members and the population of each constituency is unlikely to be obtained and is not required. The decision as to what is practicable is within the jurisdiction of the Oireachtas.

I would have thought that, where possible, they would go as close as they could to reflecting the population. In this case, the decision to take the seat from Limerick does not appear to do this; it goes against the guidelines of the commission and I question the decision.

I presume the commission did not intend to split boundaries if at all possible but it has been done in this case. I also refer to the contribution of Deputy Kennedy who was vehemently opposed to what is happening in his area of the country. He suggested that this should be referred back to the commission for consideration in light of today's debate and this is a sensible proposal with which I concur.

Overall, there is distinct dissatisfaction with the recommendations in a number of constituencies. It relates in the main to the breaching of county boundaries without reference to the loyalties that exist. Deputy Cregan described his loyalty to the people who voted for him up to this and I have a similar issue with regard to areas such as Doon, Cappamore, Caherconlish and Hospital that will now be taken away. I have visited and met the people on a regular basis in these areas.. They are now gone from our constituency and will have to deal with a new set of public representatives. Where possible, large sections of population such as these should not have to move to another constituency. Ultimately, the important people to be considered are not public representatives, but the people themselves.

In the case of the changes in Limerick, a large section of the population of County Limerick — practically all of the county part of Limerick — is affected. The west Limerick people are going into Kerry and the east Limerick people are going into what is now Limerick. They comprise a large section of the County Limerick population and it will be a significant change for them. I question whether the turn-out in these constituencies will be up to the same level it has been up to now.

See this speech in context