Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the recommendation by the Constituency Commission that County Leitrim once again be united in a single constituency. This is to be welcomed and I condemned its division the last time around. It is regrettable that to achieve this unification, it has been necessary to take in parts of County Donegal and in particular, I regret it is proposed to take in 13,100 people who are resident in west Cavan. This means everything west of a line from Ballananagh, located just three and a half miles from Cavan town, to Belturbet will from henceforth be part of the Sligo-Leitrim constituency. I consider this proposal to be ludicrous. It makes no sense and to the best of my knowledge means that for the first time in the history of the State, four counties will be represented within a single constituency. The proposal for a constituency comprising counties Sligo and Leitrim, County Donegal from Donegal town to Bundoran and everything in County Cavan west of a line from Belturbet to Ballananagh is ludicrous and disenfranchises 13,100 people in west Cavan. I will oppose it at every opportunity I am given.