Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny has donated his personal collection of parliamentary debates to Mayo County Library. The bound Volumes of Dáil debates contain the official transcript of Dáil Éireann since the late 1970s as well as records of many interesting debates from the Dáil chamber over the years. The donation represents a genuine effort to make Parliament more accessible to the ordinary public and records will be completely accessible to the public in Castlebar Library. The debates contain the contributions of the various Teachtaí Dála who have represented the Mayo constituency and former constituency of Mayo West over the past three decades.
Deputy Kenny said: “I hope this gesture will make a serious contribution to those in the locality studying Irish politics and history as well as the general public who may have an interest in learning about the Dáil. The various volumes contain a wealth of information in hard-copy format and many interesting debates are contained in the donated volumes. I have always recognised the importance of increasing the public understanding of Dáil Éireann and politics in general; as a result, I hope this is a positive step toward improving that understanding. I know that people have access through the internet but it is also nice that people have access to the actual debate book and read it. I am grateful to Mayo County Librarian Austin Vaughan for his acceptance of the bound volumes which do require quite a deal of physical space, and that they are available in the Castlebar branch of the Mayo Library Service.”
