(Cavan-Monaghan): Perhaps the Minister would tell us whether there is anything sinister in the urgency with which this Bill is being pushed through the Dáil.
The effect of section 1 is to enact that the outgoing Ceann Comhairle shall in certain circumstances be automatically re-elected to a certain constituency without the necessity of going through the electoral machine. It is provided in section 1 (a) that a new paragraph (b) shall be inserted in section 14 of the Electoral Act, 1963. The new paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 14 of the 1963 Act will read:
(b) if a revision of constituencies takes effect on the dissolution—
(i) in case on such revision there is a new constituency which either consists of or includes the constituency referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection, that new constituency.
In effect it is provided that, if there is a division of a constituency and the constituency which the Ceann Comhairle represents is not interfered with but emerges again as a constituency or if the constituency which the Ceann Comhairle represents forms part of a larger constituency, the Ceann Comhairle will automatically be re-elected. He may represent a three-seat constituency which is merged, for example, in a five-seat constituency. I am objecting to sub-paragraph (i) paragraph (b), which states:
In case on such revision there is a new constituency which either consists of or includes the constituency referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection, that new constituency ...
My interpretation of that is that, if there is a constituency which consists of a former constituency, then it is not a new constituency; it is identical with a former constituency. I suppose it could be said to be a new constituency in the sense that the former Act will be repealed and all the constituencies will be new constituencies when the new Act comes into force. To say the least of it, that is extremely confusing. Such a constituency is not a new constituency and the position would be clarified if the word "new" before "constituency" were deleted. This would make more sense and I should like to hear the Minister's view.