asked the Minister for Local Government whether in view of the fact that the population of the State has fallen according to the last census to 2,814,703, it is the Government's intention to introduce legislation to reduce the membership of Dáil Éireann so as to comply with the provisions of Article 16.2.2º of the Constitution which provides that the total number of members of Dáil Éireann shall not exceed one member for each 20,000 of the population.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of Dáil Éireann.
53.
Legislation to revise the Dáil constituencies is not at present contemplated.
Does the Minister know that according to the last census, our population has fallen to 2,814,703? We have a membership in the Dáil of 144. The relevant Article, Article 16, of the Constitution provides that the total number of members of Dáil Éireann shall not be fixed at more than one member for each 20,000 of the population. That would mean a population of 2,880,000——
Perhaps the Deputy has a question to put?
I am simply showing the present position is unconstitutional because——
The Deputy must put it in the form of a question.
Then, is the Minister aware——
Mr. Donnellan
Dublin has not enough Deputies.