Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It has been there long before any of us. Deputy Healy-Rae has left the House but it is a hotly contested part of the country on either side of the Blackwater and on either side of the Cork-Kerry region. What side people are on is contested not just on Munster final day but throughout the year. The point being made is that it is important that county boundaries are not divided up and pieces of different constituencies put in. I remember going back a number of years ago where part of west Limerick was put into north Kerry. There may have been a precedent way back 50 or 60 years ago for that particular change but to not divide county boundaries is important, insofar as is possible.

The Electoral Commission came before the Joint Committee on Disability Matters to discuss how we would ensure people with disabilities were heard. Indeed, Senator Conway had a delegation in the Houses over the past couple of days discussing the same thing. The Houses of the Oireachtas have to be representative of all the citizens. In different censuses, between 17% and 20% of the people have disabilities and it is important we get those voices heard as well. We have seen the many challenges people with disabilities have and it is important they are at the table when decisions are being made. Any decisions about them should not be made without them and it must be ensured their voices are included. As with every other group within society, whether an urban or a rural group, they are entitled to their opinion. Many people criticise rural communities for standing up for themselves against depopulation or the very difficult challenges that are facing rural communities. There is no better place to live than in rural communities. I live in a village called Kiskeam which I think is the centre of the universe but many people would think it is only a dot on the map. The point I am making is that if you identify with a place, whether urban or rural, it is hugely important that this is reflected in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I look at the Houses and the various groups that are represented here. Going back when I was elected first, those groups were probably the same but they were under the umbrellas of political parties and the debates were being held within political parties about different issues. Now the debates are being held on the floor of the Chamber which is to be welcomed as well because it is important there is diversity that reflects what we are and what we need as a society to ensure we are more inclusive. The challenges facing us as we go forward can only be resolved through the democratic Chamber we have. We are very proud of what it has been done in the past to ensure we have democracy into the future. We have seen the many challenges globally where democracy has failed. It is important we protect it. We have to support this legislation and ensure that the body that is set up, namely, the Electoral Commission, is resourced and informed properly as we go forward in any decisions it makes, whether on Dáil constituencies, presidential elections, European or local elections because it is now given the authority by this House to ensure we have a fair and democratic process into the future.

In the 20 seconds I have left, I am going to digress slightly. I raised one issue privately with the Minister of State regarding heritage and the courthouse in Kanturk and I would appreciate if he would look into it because it is a crucial matter for me at this time.

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