Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Apologies for being out of breath. I support the Bill and compliment An Teachta Ó Cuív. This is only about fair play. We hear much about equal rights, human rights and everything else, so why should island populations be discriminated against? They are entitled to have their say just like everyone else. We encourage them to do so. It is important that they have it at the same time as everyone who casts his or her vote. Given that this is a small country with a limited number of islands, the Bill is badly needed.

I am slightly disappointed, as An Teachta Ó Cuív could have included the issue of disabled access to polling booths in the Bill. Islanders are disenfranchised because they do not have votes on the islands, but some people in my constituency cannot vote because polling booths are not readily accessible. In November, I encouraged people to register before the closing date. I always try to do that so that they can have their say. I also ask them to pass on information regarding whatever special requirements they might have. The powers that be, the councils and those responsible, might not be aware. Even where they are aware, people have still needed to request special access election after election. That is not right. If someone is in a wheelchair for one election, he or she will not be out of it for the next thanks to some miracle treatment. These people need to be looked after. It is a question of our democracy, having the right and chance to vote and having equal access.

I am also considering legislation. On the day that the former Minister, Mr. Phil Hogan, banished the local democracy of our town, urban and borough district councils, no Deputy objected to the Bill except me. People spoke on it, but no vote was called. It was a major disenfranchisement and had an impact on people in the areas involved. For example, my area of Clonmel and other towns in Tipperary lost their councils. People had rightful expectations. We voted in local elections in 2009. On the same day, we voted to hold such elections every five years. At that stage, they had been put off for eight years. I lost my seat in 2001 and would have had to wait until 2009 to run again. This has been covered by legislation.

I know I am straying a small bit, but with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I might continue as we are ahead of time. We were told it would be put into legislation. People voted to have local elections for urban district and town councils. People had the expectation that the system would be changed and that at least there would be a vote. I brought up the issue in the context of the programme for Government. Bhí an tAire Stáit, Deputy Kyne, anseo freisin at the talks and it was supposed to be in the programme that we would look at restoring the borough councils in the first instance. There were only nine of them in the country and we wanted to increase the number to 11. It was decided that there would be a plebiscite in those areas, and if people wanted them back, they would vote for them but there would be no cost to the State. That was a fair and reasonable position and I would like to know the status of it now. Perhaps we need other legislation.

Thank you for your forbearance, a Cheann Comhairle. I will defer to my colleague, Deputy Michael Collins, who is more familiar with the islands as he has to travel to them every so often to meet his flock, but that is probably the wrong word - his constituents.

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