Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Deputy Dinny McGinley. Like Deputy Clune I thought there would be much more important business in the Dáil today. That is not to say that this matter is not important but the thinking of the Government must be that it will not last long. I suppose it wants to get its act together and deal with this business.

I listened recently to proposals by the Green Party, made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley. What he mentioned was new, namely, funding between elections and the amount of money councillors can spend. The latest thing is that the Minister does not want posters and therefore we cannot have posters up on poles or outside polling booths. Now that Deputy Gormley is in government he will be like all the others and will never wish to leave it. The sad thing, and one cannot know what may happen, is that he might bring in a Bill putting an end to further elections and might stay in power forever.

The Minister must watch himself. One time there was a party known as the PDs. Its Deputies used to sit over with Fianna Fáil. They are not there anymore. I can assure the House that the Green Party will go the same way after the next elections. It will no longer sit where it used to and it will not be on this side of the House either. The Minister ought not to rush to get rid of posters and elections.

I have a few observations to make in respect of this particular Bill. One concerns the European election. I heard Deputy Brady express concerns and he is right. A huge constituency will be created in the north west, to include Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Donegal, Westmeath, extending to Longford. For a three-seater constituency this is an enormous area. I wish to assure the Deputy that if I am still in the field and am elected, I will look after Meath for him. He need not worry. The people of Meath will not be forgotten as long as I am there.

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