Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will deal with the matter again. During the Second Stage debate I made a point about the carving up of the Cavan and Donegal electoral region. I reiterate that whoever is lucky to represent the people of the constituency will have to deal with four county councils and at least three HSE areas. The point has been well made by Senator Barrett that a 25% reduction in the number of seats will have to be endured by the people of Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal. The cut will impact on the three Border counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan. I do not accept that the proposal is fair and I hope that the Minister does not accept that it is fair.

I do not doubt the independence of Constituency Commission, but the result will depend on the starting point. To achieve a constituency that allows for the reunification of Leitrim, which I very much welcome, they chose to carve up parts of my county of Cavan and parts of County Donegal. I do not think that is acceptable. The membership of the independent Constituency Commission should be broadened in the future to include somebody with some practical knowledge of public representation. Anybody who would sign off on this Frankenstein constituency of Sligo-Leitrim has absolutely no practical political knowledge.