Michael McCarthy (Labour)

That was an interesting history lesson from Senator Bannon. I support the amendment.

The Minister of State will be more aware than many of us in this House that MEPs get very little publicity. In my opinion, if the European elections were not to be held in conjunction with the local elections, the turnout would be much lower than in general elections, even though that turnout is already very low.

The European project can appear very divorced from people on the ground. This was manifested in terms of the rejection of the first Nice treaty referendum. Very few people become involved in international politics, particularly within Europe. We only react when a directive or a decision from the Commission impinges directly on our lives in terms of how people interpret decisions in the European context. To use the directions when referring to the constituencies is not a good idea. There was far more recognition when the European constituencies were referred to by their provincial names. It is important that a county such as Clare should be given recognition. To include it in the North-West constituency is not a good idea, particularly as Clare is in Munster. It introduces an element of unfamiliarity into the European constituencies and puts a greater distance between people on the ground and the European project as a whole.

On other changes introduced by the commission, there are now two Westmeath constituencies. There is the county of Westmeath, which is in the constituency of Longford-Westmeath, and there is Meath West, which is now a three-seater constituency in the west of County Meath. There are a number of name changes which, to say the least, could cause confusion. The Minister of State will have an opportunity to look again at this issue. I do not know what is the logic behind the decision. I do not believe the name changes serve either the European project or the Members of the European Parliament, not to mention their constituents. The Minister of State has an opportunity on this occasion to react positively to this proposal. It would be good if the Government accepted Senator Bannon's amendment and reverted back to the original situation, particularly in County Clare, which has been added to a province of which it is not a part and given a name to which it cannot relate.