Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

That is a very healthy situation. Academic observers and critics, and some people in the media who tend to be cynical — we are never short of cynics in this country — have disparaged that relationship, but we must be very careful about accepting it. I make the point that it is, first of all, not appropriate to this legislation. Second, I am grateful the Senator has made it clear he is not in any way casting aspersions on the commission, which has operated within the terms of reference that we set it. It would not be possible to make the change now. If we are to have a debate on the size of constituencies, we must put a great deal of thought into it.