The Environment Minister Phil Hogan has refused to consider a proposal by Fianna Fáil Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív to rename the newly drawn Galway West constituency to Galway West – Mayo South.
Deputy Ó Cuív tabled an amendment to the Electoral Amendment Bill 2013 but it was rejected by the Government’s environment subcommittee on Wednesday.
Speaking afterwards, the Fianna Fáil Deputy vowed to pursue the matter further.
“It is very disappointing that Minister Hogan and his Fine Gael and Labour colleagues have rejected this simple proposal, despite the fact that it is the will of the people in south Mayo to be recognised in the newly drawn constituency,” Dep Ó Cuív said.
“There were only three simple amendments proposed to this legislation - two relating to Dublin and my one relating to Galway West. Minister Hogan accepted that the naming of constituencies was not part of the terms of reference of the Electoral Commission. Therefore renaming the constituencies would be a simple process and would only require the backing of the Government parties. But despite this, the Minister still refused point blank to consider the wishes of the people in south Mayo.”
Dep Ó Cuív said he intends to pursue the matter further and will table a similar amendment at the report stage of this legislation which will push it to a vote enabling all members to have their say.
“I hope that having had time to consider this, the Fine Gael and Labour deputies across Mayo and Galway, including the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister Michael Ring, will do the right thing for the people of south Mayo and ensure that they are recognised in the naming of this new constituency.”
