Johnny Brady (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The population of the area in question elected to the House the late John P. Wilson, a former Minister and Tánaiste and a great man. Another part of north Meath was transferred into the constituency of Monaghan. After some time, however, both areas returned to the Meath constituency. My party colleague, former Deputy Michael Lynch, and former Fine Gael Party Deputy, Mr. John B. Farrelly, were elected and lost their seats in the area on different occasions.

Prior to the 2007 elections, County Meath was divided again when the constituencies of Meath West and Meath East were established. Unfortunately, I lost a large part of my constituency in Slane, Navan and, in the case of Kells, an area extending from Moynalty to Carlanstown, to my colleague, Deputy Thomas Byrne. This change affected parish boundaries and will be repeated if the proposal in the latest review to transfer three quarters of my parish of Kells to Meath East proceeds. Part of the parishes of Carlanstown and Carnaross were transferred to Meath East under the previous boundary changes. It is unfair to split parishes in two and I hope the proposed changes will not proceed prior to the next general election.

I thank the people of Kells and Stahalmog. I have represented the town of Kells and its rural hinterland for 34 years. The electorate of the area do not want to lose a Deputy or councillor who has served them for such a long time. The Kells area has been affected most by the decision to divide the county into two constituencies. Someone working for me one day may work for Deputy Thomas Byrne on another day. Deputies English and McEntee must contend with the same unfairness.

I note in respect of the Meath and Louth constituencies that the commission "recommends" extending the Louth constituency by moving the Meath East environs of Drogheda into the electoral constituency of Louth. The report also highlights the need for a transfer of population from Meath West to Meath East. I note the Constituency Commission does not make a recommendation in this regard but instead proposes the transfer of a population of 6,776 in the Ceanannas Mór area from Meath West to Meath East. If the rapid population growth in both Meath West and Meath East continues at the rates indicated in the latest census, further changes will be required in the next constituency review. In consideration of this and based on the differences in language, the commission's proposal as opposed to recommendation to move Kells from Meath West to Meath East does not require implementation.

The report's recommendations are inconsistent, confusing, unprecedented and do not take into account the preservation of natural communities. While I fully recognise that the Constituency Commission is an independent body, its independence does not confer on it the status of infallibility. Recommendations made from a mathematical perspective with no consideration for the democratic rights of local communities are wrong. Fragmentation of closely knit communities across north Meath threatens the co-ordination of future growth in the area.

The Electoral Act 1997 states that each constituency "shall be composed of contiguous areas" and "there shall be regard to geographic considerations including significant physical features and the extent of and the density of population in each constituency". Surely people in north Meath should not be disenfranchised because of the density of population in towns such as Ratoath, Dunboyne and Ashbourne. I do not understand the reason the Constituency Commission chose not to consider moving those areas to Dublin constituencies such as Dublin West and Dublin North with which they are more aligned, rather than depriving people in parts of north Meath of a Deputy who has served them for 34 years. It is very unfair. I cannot understand why they never looked at those areas.

Section 6(f) also states that subject to the provisions of the section, the commission shall endeavour to maintain continuity in relation to the arrangement of constituencies. The Electoral Act 1997 also recommends that the breaching of county boundaries shall be avoided as far as practicable. The report on local electoral boundaries will be published next month and this will undoubtedly add more confusion for voters.

On behalf of the people I have represented in this House for 11 years, I earnestly request that the recommendations of the commission be rejected.

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