Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With respect to my learned friend and colleague, Senator Boyhan, it is the job of the Leader of the House to put before that House the business of the day. It is the job of the House to agree or reject it. Nobody is disputing that but the Senator seems to have been misguided on what I said. I did not say what he has implied at all. It is my job as Leader to put the schedule to the House. That is the point I made. I also indicated there was no disagreement on the taking of this Bill and the way we ordered its associated business. It is a valid point.

I welcome the legislation and this evening's debate on the future of our European constituencies. We had a very good debate last night on the future of Europe and it is a pity not all Members participated in it because it was so enlightening. We had divergent views. In a post-Brexit world, the power and importance of the European Parliament will become more relevant. After the redistribution of the United Kingdom seats, we will have an extra two seats, which is to be welcomed. The Minister of State mentioned the principle of redistribution but this is about ensuring the European Union and the European Parliament would be seen to work on behalf of the citizen. The democratic deficit expressed by Senator Mullen will not be bridged by the taking of all Stages of this Bill today but that will come through engagement with the citizens of Europe.

Many of us would have issues with constituency boundary commission reports; I have a number of them, as the Minister of State knows quite well, from a local and national perspective. It is an independent body and although sometimes we find it hard to fathom the decisions, Senator Mullen's contribution was extraordinary. It is the right of every political party and citizen to make a submission to the commission. I have done so with respect to the Cork South-Central and the proposed new local government structure for Cork. That is the right of a citizen. The Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, has opened a six-week consultation process this week. This is not the preserve of a small few and it is open to all of us.

Equally, I found it amusing to hear Senator Mullen speak about the "shoot-out" between two candidates. He is assuming the electorate will not make a change and he has assumed what the outcome will be. The Irish electorate is sovereign and it makes the decisions. We may not like those decisions but it is the power of the ballot box. It is why it is important to have independent boundary commissions. I have argued in the past that a politician, either retired or active, should be on such commissions as he or she would bring a certain expertise to the table. I have not heard what will happen if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union on time and on schedule. There are two seats in a limbo or holding pattern. The Members from Sinn Féin might say we should have had a member of the European Parliament from the North. I welcome our party's decision to invite Mr. Mark Durkan to contest the election. It is a very good move by the Fine Gael Party.

The Minister of State referenced the very topical issue of the city boundary change in Cork. In the context of this debate and the future of the city and county, it is important we get the transition right and ensure every opportunity is there for this to succeed. I do not share Senator Grace O'Sullivan's negativity about her chances as she is running a very good campaign. I have my own candidate in the field but we will not get into that just now.It may be an exercise for the Citizens' Assembly to consider the use of a list system for future elections to the European Parliament. I know we have discussed lowering the voting age to 16 years on a pilot basis, but perhaps we could look at that in tandem with a list system for European elections, given the importance of the European Parliament in future.