Michael McCarthy (Labour)

Political analysts and politicians did not see what was coming and the scale of it. It was important that politicians were removed from the equation because all Governments would act to strengthen their own position and weaken that of the Opposition. The commission's independence is important.

It is, however, also important to remember that the commission should be aware of the distance between Ireland and Europe in some areas. The names of these constituencies are cold and unfamiliar. The Minister of State was known as an MEP for Connacht-Ulster, not an MEP for the north west. Constituencies for Dáil elections that have north, south, east and west suffixes will add to the confusion.

I accept from where the Minister of State is coming. I presume the commission will meet again, particularly in view of the accession countries joining and the implications in terms of the loss of another seat at the end of 2009. If the constituencies are renamed at that stage, they will comprise half the north west, part of north west and part of the east, and that would be even more confusing. Good points were made in favour of this amendment.