Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I profess I do not have any specialist expertise or knowledge in this area. I rise merely to speak as a representative of one of the constituencies it appears will be adversely affected by the proposed changes.

I wonder about the purpose of this debate. What credence or weight can be placed on our making statements here today? I hope the Minister when replying will enlighten us as to the object of today's exercise. I would like to know what the Government is doing in this regard and what is its intention regarding this report. Is it being accepted, accepted with qualification or rejected? It is important we have leadership in this regard. Those who can provide that element of leadership are sitting opposite.

My own constituency will lose thousands of voters to Tipperary North. This is the only time in the history of this State that the constituency of Laois-Offaly has been in any way affected by boundary changes. It is, in fact, the only constituency in the entire country that has never been affected by any reviews or changes since the foundation of the State. From that point of view, this change is a major one for the midlands.

The Constituency Commission has decided to butcher and fragment the constituency of Laois-Offaly for the first time ever. Part of the county of Offaly is to be joined with Tipperary North. I do not mean any disrespect to the people of north Tipperary but the fact remains that not only are different counties involved, so too are different provinces. There is nothing in terms of affinity, relationship, close or otherwise, between the people of Offaly and the people of Tipperary.

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