Jimmy Harte (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would not suggest my own name. It is not the big issue.

In Donegal, for example, we have lost part to Sligo-Leitrim. There were two three-seaters and Donegal South-West ended up almost in Inishowen, which is the most northerly part of Ireland. The people of St. Johnston - next door to Inishowen and where the border parish of Carrigans is in Inishowen - were being represented by three TDs who, with respect, were 70 miles away whereas the local TDs in the other constituency were ten or 12 miles away. In certain areas, the realignment will help. The fact that almost 90% of Donegal is now one constituency gives the people throughout the county a choice as to whom to vote for. An area such as the Finn Valley was split in two and kicked around politically for the past 30 or 40 years, and that has been regularised.

Sinn Féin is one of the opponents of political reform in the local authorities in Northern Ireland where they are reducing the number of local authorities from 26 to 11. It is one of the parties that has proposed this and is standing by it. One cannot say one does not want political reform or reducing the number of local authorities in the South when one has the power not to do so in Northern Ireland but is doing so. If one listens to Radio Ulster or RTE, one gets two different stories. The people must be aware of how constituencies are formatted.