Government TDs have voted down a proposal by Fianna Fáil TD 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, which came before the Dáil yesterday morning, but it was voted down by the Government.
Speaking afterwards, the Fianna Fáil Deputy expressed his disappointment at the outcome of the vote.
“It is very disappointing that Minister Hogan and his Fine Gael and Labour colleagues have rejected this simple proposal,” Dep Ó Cuív said.
“I find it hard to understand how Government TDs in both Galway and Mayo voted against this amendment, despite the fact that it is the will of the people in South Mayo to be recognised in the newly drawn constituency. It was also noteworthy that three Mayo TDs, including the Taoiseach, were absent from the vote. I can understand how the Taoiseach may be busy, but the absence of Deputies O’Mahony and Ring from the vote is quite surprising.”
