Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to be able to speak because I nearly lost most of my constituency in the last ten minutes. I am delighted to speak on this important legislation. Constituencies in Ireland have undergone significant changes over the past five years with mergers, divisions and reductions in the number of Deputies. My constituency of Cork South-West has been amended in a number of ways. Before I continue, I must point out that I am honoured to have been elected and to work on behalf of my constituents in the Dáil. However, there are only three Deputies for what is probably the longest constituency in Ireland. It should have at least five Deputies representing it.

A few years ago my constituency lost many townlands that were, and always will be, considered part of Cork South-West. A section of Dunmanway has been moved into the Cork North-West constituency, which is absolutely disgraceful. It leaves the people of the area in no man's land. I would have tied myself to the gates of Dáil Éireann if I had been a Member of the House at the time to prevent losing that part of Dunmanway. It should never have happened. The same applies to Ballineen and Enniskeane. The two neighbouring small towns are so close they could be considered one. One town has been exiled to the northern half of west Cork. With no disrespect to my colleagues from that constituency, this is a mindless change and the people who have been moved are wholly unhappy about it.

The people who made that decision can only be described as pencil pushers. They drew random lines on maps wherever they wished. How could anybody think that splitting a town between constituencies would be productive or sensible? It appears from the way the lines were drawn that it must have been done late at night after a big Christmas party. The new recommendations from the Constituency Commission have done nothing to solve the problems in my constituency. I ask the Minister of State to ask the commission to examine this as soon as possible. I appreciate that many other constituencies also face such issues when constituents are moved out of the constituency and are left feeling disenfranchised.

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