Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, for affording me some of his time. At the outset, I wish to compliment the Constituency Commission. It had a job to do and it did it. The commission's recommendations do not satisfy everybody, however, which is the reason we are having this debate. Comments were made in advance of this debate, including by our current Taoiseach who commented on the report in a personal capacity. He suggested that some type of draft report could be debated here in advance of the commission's final decision. We should ask to whom we are talking. Is the commission still in place, or does it no longer exist on the basis that it has completed its report? I am not sure but perhaps at some stage it can be clarified whether the commission is there, or listing, at this particular time. Alternatively, are we talking to ourselves regarding this matter?

As a Government Deputy for the proposed constituency of Roscommon-South Leitrim, my particular interest is that strong representations were made by organisations, political parties and others, recommending that County Leitrim would not be divided. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened. The outcome of that is that the county of Leitrim does not have a resident TD. My constituency of Longford-Roscommon includes south Leitrim while Sligo-Leitrim includes north Leitrim. The people of County Leitrim feel they have not been treated a fair hand of cards in so far as they do not have a resident TD and I can understand that. The people there have made their position well known. It is unfortunate that a small county is, to some extent, seen as an area that should not have a TD. Under the present arrangements, including the recent report, it will be even more difficult for that to happen.

I respect the independence of commissions. It is good that we do not have the gerrymandering we may have had in the past. It is important that we as public representatives reflect the views expressed in our constituency clinics or wherever. I hope that somehow or other the wishes of the people of County Leitrim can be addressed in another report or in some other way.

I thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, for sharing time with me.

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