Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

Last week the Government accepted the recommendations of the constituency review committee. That obviously paves the way for the introduction of legislation. In the Government's legislative programme, which all Members will have received, it was stated that such legislation would not be taken until spring 2005. I would be grateful if the Leader would inquire as to its timing and whether it might be possible to introduce the legislation in this House first. There are very controversial issues surrounding it, and I would like to bring to the attention of the House to the fact that a legal challenge is being considered against the proposed division of my own county, Leitrim, to which, as the House will know, I am totally opposed. If the legislation were debated in this House before going to the Dáil, it would be an ideal opportunity to air such views and clarify whether any such legal challenge would be successful.