Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Midlands-North West constituency, comprising the area from Louth to Donegal, which adjoins the Border with Monaghan, Cavan and into Leitrim. It would be appropriate that the members elected from that constituency would represent the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland also of all denominations and none. The committee, with respect, should have taken that into account but it is obvious it did not because it did not increase the number from four to five. It increased the number for Dublin from three to four and the number for the South from four to five. It is a long way from Belfast to Cork. It is not a long way from Belfast to Dundalk. When the legislation is drawn up the Government should take that situation into consideration. The people of Northern Ireland are entitled to representation in the European Union after the United Kingdom leaves, even though Northern Ireland voted to remain.

An interesting point about this is that the two members taking their seats in the new European Parliament after May 2019 will be subject to the withdrawal, legally, of the United Kingdom from the European Union. Technically, therefore, the 11 seats will stand until the United Kingdom legally leaves the European Union, which may not actually be for five years; we do not know. However, the United Kingdom has decided to withdraw in March 2019 in advance of the European elections in May 2019. The four or five people who are elected from what I call the Border constituency of Connacht-Ulster - and I know this recommendation will be accepted by the Government, as have all previous recommendations - should pledge to support the people of Northern Ireland and be available to them in order to put their views to the European Union. They should be available to meet them throughout the length and breadth of Northern Ireland. That is a commitment any candidate should make, and I put it up to the candidates now. If they are seeking nomination, their pledge should be that they will equally support our divided brotherhood in Northern Ireland as one united Ireland represented by them in the European Union.