Johnny Brady (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate, the subject of which will have a severe impact on me and the area I represent in Dáil Éireann in the future.

The report of the Constituency Commission recommends further partitioning of the area I represent in the House. It recommends transferring a further 6,776 people, the electorate of the areas of Kells town, Kells rural district and Stahalmog, from the constituency of Meath West to Meath East. County town and parish boundaries have been disregarded and, under the proposals, Kells town and its natural hinterland are to be in separate constituencies. Kells is a rural town with close links to the surrounding villages and smaller towns of north Meath. The future economic well-being of the greater Kells area would be best served by keeping the entire area in one Dáil constituency.

The greater north Meath area has been subjected to serious territorial change over the years. In 1973, part of it was transferred into the constituency of Cavan. The population of the area then helped elect the late and great John P. Wilson, a former Minister and Tánaiste, to this House. Another part of north Meath was transferred to the constituency of Monaghan, where its electorate helped elect the great former Minister and Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Rory O'Hanlon. In later years, however, both areas were returned to the Meath constituency. Indeed, my great friend and colleague with whom I have served for more than 34 years, Michael Lynch, who was elected to this House on two occasions and to Seanad Éireann, is from this area.

Prior to the 2007 election, 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 Meath Hill, to my colleague and great friend Deputy Thomas Byrne. This included areas such as Carlanstown, Newcastle, Tierworker, Kilmainham Wood, Kilbeg, Nobber and Drumcondra, which were part of the Kells electoral area. Unfortunately, this area is now being changed again. The previous changes affected parish boundaries and the new proposals in the latest review will transfer three quarters of my parish of Kells to Meath East. Parts 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. I take the opportunity to thank the people of Kells and Stahalmog for giving me over 60% of the vote in that area in previous elections. As a public representative, first as a county councillor and now as a TD, I have represented the town of Kells and its rural hinterland for more than 34 years. The electorate of the area do not want to lose a representative 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.

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 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 difference in the words used, the commission's proposal, as opposed to recommendation, to move Kells from Meath West to Meath East does not require implementation.

The recommendations of the report are inconsistent, confusing and 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. The 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 that "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 why 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.

In the previous change, I was lucky that part of Westmeath — the Coole electoral area — came into the Meath West constituency.

I ask the Acting Chairman to tell me when my time is up.

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