Pencil pushers ‘drawing random lines on maps'

DEMOCRACY is forgotten about when it comes to redrawing constituency boundaries, according to Independent Deputy Michael Collins. 

Speaking during the Electoral Bill 2017, the Goleen deputy told the Dáil that the previous  redrawing of the constituency boundaries in Cork South West had left many people feeling ignored and abandoned.

That saw a section of Dunmanway moved into the North West  constituency while the neighbouring communities of Ballineen and Enniskeane were also split between Cork South West and Cork North West. 

 He called the Dunmanway split ‘absolutely disgraceful’. ‘It leaves the people of this area in no-man’s land. I would’ve tied myself to the gates of Dáil Eireann had I been elected here at that time to stop losing this part of Dunmanway.

‘Another example, Ballineen and Enniskeen, two neighbouring small towns – so close that they could be considered one. One town has now been exiled to the northern half of West Cork.’

 He continued: ‘The nameless officials who made this decision can only be described as pencil pushers, they drew random lines on maps wherever they liked. How could anyone at all think that splitting a town into two constituencies would be a productive or sensible idea?’

Deputy Collins described as ‘nonsensical’ the Mackinnon Report which suggested new city/county boundaries.