Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Bill affects the constituency of Roscommon-Galway, which I am very privileged to represent. It also affects the constituencies of my colleagues, Deputies MacSharry and Rabbitte, with whom I am sharing time. I welcome the Bill but am unhappy with its implications for my constituency. As the Minister of State probably knows, north Roscommon is a very strong base for me. I feel sorry for the people of Keadue, Ballyfarnon and many other areas in that locality. I have no doubt that the two Fianna Fáil representatives for Sligo-Leitrim, Deputies MacSharry and Scanlon, will be delighted for that part of north Roscommon to be made part of their constituency and they will work for it. However, 7,800 voters have been left in no-man's land. I say that with no disrespect to the excellent representatives for Sligo-Leitrim. However, here we go again. That the Sligo-Leitrim constituency comprised Sligo, Leitrim and parts of Donegal and Cavan was absolutely ridiculous. The commission recognised that having that part of Cavan in the Sligo-Leitrim constituency was neither feasible nor good. However, it has taken a chunk from Roscommon and put it into Sligo-Leitrim and has given back Cavan. We have to get away from treating counties in this manner. It is not acceptable and, in the long term, Members will have to ensure that it is changed.

With no disrespect to the people who will be representing the area, north Roscommon has been gutted from top to bottom by the fish knife of the commission. It has been left in no man's land. It needs strong representation, which I have no doubt it will receive, but it is utterly unfair to do that to any community. Such changes have occurred throughout the country on many occasions. The population of County Roscommon is 64,000 but that of the Roscommon-Galway constituency is approximately 84,000 or 85,000, which is a little short of what is stipulated in the legislation. The House must devise a system to ensure that no county is treated in such a manner. It has been done too many times and I am not happy with what has been done in respect of north Roscommon.

There are great people coming to my constituency from the Galway East constituency, which is good Fianna Fáil country, and I welcome them. However, I am saddened for the people of north Roscommon, many of whom feel they have been left in no man's land and have had no respect shown to them. I have no doubt that in the future we will seek for Roscommon to become a one-county constituency once again.

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