A Nation of ‘Operators’ and Cute Hoors

Not that it should come as a surprise but one really does have to laugh sometimes - it beats crying.

The recent Boundary Commission proposals, which are due to be ratified in the coming months will do damage to the contiguity of a number of counties and towns. Kerry North will have some of west Limerick and Swords will be split in two for example.

Understandably residents of Swords have reservations about getting proper representation when the interests of the town, and its votes, are split in half. The same worries that Leitrim had and were forced to accept. In the Dail this morning, Eamon Gilmore presented extracts from an email sent by Fianna Fail Dublin North TD Michael Kennedy to a constituent who wrote of their concern for the proposal.

The TD said it was the responsibility of the opposition to make sure this didn’t happen;

The only way this proposal will be defeated is if FG and Labour “kick-up” a fuss then FF would be willing to refer the matter back to the committee for review - if FF do this on their own, they will be accused of “gerrymandering”.

So far FG and Labour are silent on the issue and if Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore came out strongly against as I am certain Bertie Ahern would gladly refer the proposals back.

They don’t want opposition for opposition sake but they wouldn’t mind having opposition do their work for them. Its why they keep winning I suppose.

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