Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----we did not want the Minister to saw off bits of counties Cavan and Donegal. This is bad practice and Members have the power to do something about it because what they have received are mere regulations. However, were they to opt for this, it would be bad practice. Moreover, this is a serious point and not a potshot at the Minister, Deputy Hogan. It is bad for public administration.

My own constituency of Laois-Offaly will become two separate constituencies. While that appears rational on paper, when one studies the detail, the new constituency of Laois will take in all of County Laois and six small electoral divisions in County Kildare, based in two separate local electoral areas, LEAs, with two separate sets of administration. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government should take heed of this point because he has spoken at length about joining up local government. There will be two separate administrations in the Athy area and Kildare LEA area, while Offaly will now take in all of County Offaly and a large section of County Tipperary. The Member seated to my left in the Chamber, Deputy Cowen, will be canvassing very close to the Acting Chairman, Deputy Tom Hayes, down near the borders of Nenagh town. That constituency will be shaped more like a banana than an apple. It will be a long drag of a constituency, extending from below Enfield right down to the edge of Nenagh town. It is misshapen and will take approximately one and a half hours to drive through it, on not very good roads. It will take in part of that area-----

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