Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I regret the crash of the air ambulance and I hope no one was injured. I hope it is working again quickly because it is vital, although it is no replacement for an accident and emergency unit in Roscommon.

I ask the Leader to set aside time next week to consider the report of the Constituency Commission, which is reviewing Dáil and European Parliament constituencies. The report will be presented to the Ceann Comhairle tomorrow by the chairman of the Constituency Commission, the Honourable Mr. Justice John Cooke. It is an important document and many Members have a direct interest in it. Some 533 submissions were received, including six from current Members of the House. Members in this House will also contest European Parliament and Dáil elections and I wish them well.

The reduction in the number of Deputies from 166 to 153 was understood to be a Government proposal. It will now be reduced to 158, some 12 fewer than the promise of the Fine Gael Government when it said it would reduce the number by 20. The Seanad may not be there and eight Members are dead men and women walking because they will not have seats after the next election. The Seanad offered an opportunity for them to remain in public life. It will be a big loss for experienced Members, who have served in the Dáil-----