Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senator O'Toole called for a debate on the constituencies review. This presents a serious challenge to us, as parliamentarians, in regard to where we are going. Practically half of our Dáil constituencies will lose one or two seats in every constituency review. I have discussed this with three experienced Members in both Houses and serious decisions must be made regarding what will happen along the western seaboard between Kerry and Donegal. I could not agree more with the sentiments of Senator O'Toole in this regard and a debate will be held on this issue in the next three to four weeks. The Boundary Commission is an independent body and it is currently sitting. However, no one knows better than I what can happen, as I lost half my county to another constituency, similar to what happened in Leitrim. Following past constituency reviews, at least one seat has been lost along the western corridor every time. This is leading to a shift of power with two thirds of the electorate residing on the eastern seaboard. The western seaboard will be denuded of its democratic right to have representatives in both Houses. Thankfully the Seanad is a more democratic House in that regard.