Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

Tá an ceithre fhothoghchán molta ag an Lucht Oibre ach tá suim ar leith san fhothogchán i bPort Láirge. Martin Cullen resigned as a Member of Dáil Éireann on 23 March due to unfortunate ill-health. I trust he has gained good quality of life in the intervening period. In the seven and a half months since, the people of Waterford have been under-represented in the Dáil. This is utterly unacceptable and the point was endorsed yesterday by the ruling of the President of the High Court, Mr. Justice Nicholas Kearns. As with other constituencies, Waterford needs the full complement of Deputies; there was never a time in the history of the State that this was more necessary. As of 30 September 2010, the live register for the Waterford constituency stood at 14,503, while the live register in the Waterford city exchange is 12,115, with 2,388 in the Dungarvan area. In the Waterford exchange area, 1,130 men and 934 women under the age of 25 years are on the live register. The comparable figure for Dungarvan is 312 men and 170 women. These figures do not include the growing number of people forced to emigrate from the constituency. Against this background, the absolute need for the full complement of Deputies is all too apparent. I call on the Government to give the people of Waterford their basic right and to discard the narrow interests of the Government. Whether in Waterford, Donegal South-West or Dublin South, the Government knows its time in office will be harshly treated by the electorate. If the four by-elections take place, the Government will not have a working majority because they will lose all four.

Apart from the fact that it is the right of the people, the other reason we need the additional Member to be elected is that the south-east region and Waterford in particular has been neglected by this Government. Deputy Martin Mansergh is well aware of this and it is particularly true of job creation. There is a need for a university in the south east. I refer to the upgrading of the Waterford Institute of Technology. The Government continues to prevaricate on this fundamental issue. Unless the south east - the only region without a university - has a research and development capacity and fourth level education, it will not be in a position to accept high-tech industry, which is a major area of growth and jobs for the future.

In his capacity as the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Deputy Mansergh knows about joined-up thinking. Waterford's courtrooms are in a chronic position. There are two courtrooms in the city and the administration of justice is being crippled. Plans have been developed for an extension to the courthouse but it cannot go ahead unless the existing fire station is demolished and a new fire station constructed on a new site. That project does not seem to be going ahead. The money is not available for the courthouse. We need joined-up thinking to consider what is needed and progress from that.

I also wish to draw attention to the reconfiguration of the south-east hospital services. This has major implications for services throughout the south east, for the future of the regional hospital and the range of regionalised services available. There is an urgent need for capital. Phase 1 of the development control plan at the hospital costs €60 million to provide for critical cancer care, hospice services and 100 additional beds. These projects are going nowhere under this Government. Another voice in the constituency would help to deal with the agenda. The four by-elections should take place. I endorse the comments of my colleague, Deputy Ciarán Lynch, to the effect that legislation should be introduced so that by-elections take place within three to six months after a vacancy is declared.

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