John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We effectively are putting on a statutory footing the composition of the oversight group. This is where we differ on the issue of former politicians. It is fine to have former politicians being involved in the basic political stuff of understanding natural boundaries for election purposes and why it make no sense sometimes to stick to the old district electoral divisions, DEDs, which were devised more than 200 years ago. Even if this group was expanded to six or seven people, to pick a former member or two, however, potentially would involve people with political connections in the process. This group is not intended to be in any way a permanent structure and is just there to ensure the implementation plan is implemented. I, therefore, disagree with the Senator on that point.