Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

It is fair to recognise that Dublin is under-represented, even though I do not represent Dublin. My constituency of Meath East is quite rural. Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting many people at their doorsteps. Last Thursday, I was standing in a milking parlour while the farmer milked his cows, and a fine herd of cattle he has. That might only be 25 miles from where we are sitting, and there are rural areas in many parts of Meath which I try to represent to the best of my abilities. I do not know the exact split between urban and rural dwellers in my constituency, but I estimate that about 55%-60% of people there live in urban areas. I am sure the Senator has been to Meath, and he is very welcome there.

As the party spokesperson on community and rural affairs in the Senate, I keenly keep an interest in issues that affect rural communities. I have spoken on issues such as rural post offices and the need to keep them open, on suckler grants——