Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)

I want to again put on the record the concerns of people in my constituency and our neighbouring constituency, formerly Limerick East. We do not welcome the Bill. We were advised there would be minimal change when the commission was given its instruction yet we have seen our two constituencies butchered, to put it mildly. Limerick is losing a seat in that it had eight seats but now has just seven.

People are quite engaged and upset about this issue. We do not understand the logic as to why places in the west such as Abbeyfeale, Athea, Monagea, Templeglantine, Tournafulla, Mountcollins and Glin were essentially moved to Kerry North, with a transfer of over 13,000 votes into Kerry North. Political activists of all parties, the general public and those who supported people like myself, Deputy Noonan and our colleagues in both constituencies do not understand why this has happened when it was not flagged or expected and was not logical when it did happen. We received more than 17,000 votes from the former Limerick East into the new constituency of Limerick, where I live.

I do not welcome the Bill. I am very happy to represent the new areas of Doon, Cappamore, Oola, Pallasgreen, Caherconlish, Boheroe, Hospital, Murroe and Drumkeen. However, what has happened is unacceptable. We in Limerick believe this was politically motivated to ensure Kerry would hold its six-seat representation and Limerick would lose one seat.

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