Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

In keeping with Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, I do not know why we are having this debate. The Government already approved the Constituency Commission's recommendations on 30 January. People often claim the Dáil is only a talk-shop. The Government has already made a decision and this debate should have been held long before the commission was established.

I was elected by the people of Limerick East in the last general election. Without any forewarning, 17,000 of them find they will now be in the Limerick County constituency. Limerick, as a county, has been butchered to ensure two three seat constituencies are retained in County Kerry. People from Oola, Cappamore, Doon, Pallas Green, Murroe, Caherconlish, Herbertstown, Hospital, Roxboro and Ballyneety have been represented by Deputies from the Limerick East constituency since 1948. Having grown up in Limerick, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, will be aware of the great affinity between the county and the city, particularly in east Limerick. I find it ironic that the commission found the revision "would allow Limerick East to reflect more fully the urban areas and Limerick West the rural areas". Yet it also decided the Cork North-Central constituency would get 8,500 people from two rural constituencies, Cork East and Cork North-West. Where is the logic in that?

Why are we having statements on this commission report?

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