I raise this question again because I was not satisfied with the answer I got from the Parliamentary Secretary. In the first instance he stated that the signing centre was in a licensed premises. That is not correct. It was a hall away from the licensed premises. This hall is used for social functions, dances and so on, and obviously is not and could not be licensed. The Parliamentary Secretary stated that the new centre was only half a mile from the old centre. Again that is not right. Perhaps it is, as the crow flies, but going along the road to the new centre is slightly more than a mile. I had this test carried out this afternoon and got the information later.
The old centre was on the main Glencar road in a most central position. Seventy-five per cent of the people signing there came from a point south of that line. Now they are asked to go a further mile to the new centre. At the old centre many people came from Cloone, seven miles away, Bridg, six miles, and Shronehree, five miles. On the west side from Curravagha, seven miles, from Droumalonhert, six miles, and Dreenereigh, five miles. To the east Derrinafena is six miles and Coose is four miles. Those are the distances from the old centre and now a further mile has been added.
Many years back I tried on various occasions to get a second signing centre on the south side at Boheseal, which would be much nearer for the majority of the people. This centre at Lyranes was picked as the most central between north and south Glencar. If the Parliamentary Secretary insists on having the new centre as the centre of operations we will have to press for another centre at Boheseal. This will mean two centres.
There is no waiting accommodation at the new centre. People have to wait on the roadside for the Garda car to arrive. This is a mountainous area, rough and rugged, and in winter time is subject to extreme storms and rain. The old centre was heated and the people could wait inside until the gardaí came. Many people have to walk to this centre and cannot arrange to arrive just as the Garda car comes. They have to be there long before the car arrives because the gardaí do not spend very long there. If the information I have is correct, these people are now being asked to stand on the roadway and wait for the gardaí to arrive. To my mind this is scandalous.
I am satisfied that this is a political move and nothing else. If it is in order to add the words "political chicanery" that is what I would call it. I represent those people in this House. I am trying to get the best terms for them and this kind of manoeuvre is not helpful. At this stage I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to have another look at this matter and let the people sign at the old centre which was the most convenient.
I am compelled to give it the publicity it deserves in the local papers because, as I said, it is a political move. It is extraordinary that it followed a political meeting held about three weeks earlier. It was an unwise move and made things difficult for the people concerned whose interests have not been taken into account.
That is the reason I object to this move. I do not often raise matters in this House. I can accept most things once I see reason in them but this is and has been unreasonable. No excuse can be made for it. The statements made by the Parliamentary Secretary do not add up in this situation. I think the matter deserves the widest possible publication; it is unwise and unfair to the people concerned, not in their interests, but to suit the interests of political people, something which should not happen.
