Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am somewhat relieved that I am not on Senator Conway's panel. He gave a great welcome to my good friend and former colleague in Dáil Éireann, the mayor of Clare, James Breen.

On a more serious note, even though it may be impractical to have such a debate before the recess, I ask the Leader for a debate with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, on the amalgamation of Cork city and county councils. It is a regressive move and is not appropriate. I read yesterday's editorial in the Irish Examinerand it focused on the issue again today. It compared the amalgamation to the decision by a former Government to get rid of health boards and create the HSE regional areas. The administration of our health system is appalling, something which has been going on for 20 years. It does not work now, it did not work ten years ago and it was better 20 years ago. I think it was Karl Marx who referred to the thesis, the antithesis and the synthesis. Where are we going with regard to the amalgamation of Cork city and county councils? It will be a large local authority.

I would also like Members and the Leader to reflect on the inequality of representation nationally. In my old electoral area, we lost four council seats and three local authorities. One needs 3,100 votes to become a local authority member, but in other areas 600 or 700 votes will do. The councillors in my area represent places like Dursey Island, Bere Island, Cape Clear and Sherkin Island, as well as remote peninsulas like Mizen Head and the Bere Peninsula. There is less representation for those from west Cork than those in other counties, or even those in Cork city where the quota is half that required in other areas. We should reflect on where we are going. I refer to people's constitutional right to get fair representation. This probably affects other areas, but it is an important issue in Cork.

I ask the Leader to indicate the week, if not the day, on which he expects the next election to be. It is a serious question. Yesterday, during my travails, I happened to be in Tallaght, Swords and Nenagh. A female Government Senator was actively campaigning and it concerned me that she may have known more than I do. I know the Leader has the ear of the Taoiseach. I ask him to indicate as closely as possible, to the nearest week, when the general election will be.