Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and thank him for his short contribution on what he described as a very short Bill, which it is. I think the explanatory memorandum is longer than the Bill. In essence, it reduces the number of MEPs elected to represent the Twenty-six Counties from 12 to 11, to which we are totally opposed. This decision was taken at intergovernmental level in June 2013 and the Taoiseach did not put up a strong case and argue against the reduction of one, which we believe was a major mistake.

The European Parliament elections, as Senator Whelan stated, will take place on 23 May. He outlined to the House that the constituency in which I live will now stretch from Moneygall to Donegal to Dunboyne, bordering the sprawling Dublin area. At a time when interest in European Parliament elections has been dwindling, the expansion of the constituencies will not help generate an interest in these elections among the general public.

As colleagues stated, the European Parliament is gaining more power but our representation is being reduced, which is unacceptable. I welcome the fact Croatia has become the 28th member of the European Union but I am saddened this has resulted in a reduction in the number of public representatives representing this country in that Parliament. As Senator Colm Burke, who is a former Member of the European Parliament, has often outlined, the maximum amount of time a Member gets to speak in most debates is one minute. If our contribution to major debates is to be reduced to a maximum of 11 minutes, we are not being properly represented.

Like other colleagues, I wish everybody contesting the European Parliament election the very best of luck, including Senator Mullen, who will be in my constituency. He will not get my No. 1 vote but I assure him I will not forget him before I put the ballot paper in the ballot box.

Is this the last reduction in the number of people to be elected from this State to the European Parliament? Perhaps the Minister cannot answer that. However, it is ironic that he is implementing legislation a few months before he heads to Europe to represent us as our Commissioner. I wish him well in that regard.