Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I support the call for a debate on compiling the electoral register. I also support Senator Finucane's proposal. It is a great idea to get the students of the country to look after the electoral register. It would re-engage them with politics and would give them a chance to see what politics is all about. I have no doubt they would do a tremendous job as well.

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the BMW region and the amount of money that has been spent in that region in comparison to others. I understand that we are €6 billion short of what we were supposed to get. What will the Government do to ensure that the BMW region gets its fair share of funding? Ireland got €8 billion on the backs of the poorer regions in the early 1990s. The BMW has fallen very far behind the east coast, so I call for the Leader to arrange a debate on the issue in this House.