John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Local Government Bill 2013. I do not believe much thought or effort went into the drawing up the new boundaries for local government, or that there was much independence in the process. For example, Taghmon in County Wexford is approximately 8 km from Wexford town but it is now being put in with the local authority area of New Ross, which is at least 25 to 30 km away. It has nothing in common with the New Ross constituency. Much of the redrawing of the boundaries had a political dimension to it. With the eight seaters and ten seaters, the Minister was trying to ensure the seats of Fine Gael and Labour Party councillors would be protected. Obviously, there was not too much independence attached to the drawing up of the boundaries by the commission.

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