asked the Minister for the Environment if he will invite the members of the commission established to determine boundaries of Euro-Constituencies to undertake the determination of any changes that may be proposed in respect of boundaries of local electoral areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electoral Boundaries.
21.
I would refer the Deputy to my replies of 17 and 25 October. No decision has been taken in regard to the re-drawing of any local electoral area boundaries.
(Cavan-Monaghan): In view of the fact that the Taoiseach has committed the Government to have Dáil boundaries drawn up by a commission and in view of the fact that Euro-constituency boundaries were drawn by a commission, will the Minister not give a commitment that if there are any changes in local electoral areas they will also be drawn up by a commission?
The only commitment I can give is that contained in the Fianna Fáil manifesto which indicated that an electoral commission would be set up to revise constituencies and put an end to all charges of gerrymandering. The European Assembly constituencies were drawn up by an impartial commission and a commission for Dáil constituencies will be set up after next year's census. The manifesto made no specific mention of local electoral areas. The commission set up for the Assembly constituencies was an ad hoc body which dissolved immediately it presented its report.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The manifesto, which has just been quoted by the Minister, gives an undertaking that Dáil constituencies would be drawn up by a commission in order to do away with any allegations of political bias. Will the Minister not agree that the same principles and practicalities are involved in local electoral areas? Will he not give an undertaking that if his Department decide to change any local electoral areas, whether in Dublin city or throughout the country, that they will be drawn up by a commission? Am I to take him as saying that he will have one standard for Dáil electoral areas and another standard for local authority areas?
This question is on the Order Paper and the Minister has answered it.
(Cavan-Monaghan): He has not answered it. I am asking him if he is going to have one standard for Dáil constituencies and another standard for local authority constituencies.
(Interruptions.)
The position is that we must be realistic. It may well happen that applications will come in from a number of local authorities for revision. The time now available to carry out a review of electoral areas is very short and any such review would have to be of a fairly limited nature. Similarly, the type factor would have to be taken into account in considering the means to be adopted for carrying out a review. It would obviously seem desirable to avoid unduly elaborate procedures. It must be emphasised, however, that no decisions have been taken in this regard.
Is the Minister not aware that only this morning there was a public inquiry into whether Dublin County Council should have an increase in their number and that at that inquiry evidence was given by a number of members and officials of the council that not only should the membership be increased but that the electoral boundaries needed to be changed as well? Would the Minister not accept that in the time the inspector of that inquiry would take to make his report the Minister would have ample time to set up an independent commission to establish the boundaries that ought to be determined in the new County Dublin set-up?
That is argument. I am calling Question No. 22.
I cannot comment on this inquiry which was held this morning because I may have to take a decision on the inspector's report and I would not like to prejudice that decision.
The point I am making is that the length of time it will take an inspector to produce a report could be used by the Minister——
The Deputy has already made that point. I am calling Question No. 22.
(Interruptions.)
Is the Minister saying that there will be no revision except where the local authority request it?
I am not saying that. I am saying that no decision has been taken.
Can the Minister tell me when a decision will be taken in view of the fact that the local elections are only six months away? How soon will a decision be made?
(Interruptions.)
The questions the Deputies are asking are not actually relevant. I have been more than patient with the Deputies.
They are relevant. Dublin city is being gerrymandered.
The Minister has answered the question and the Deputy is creating argument.
This has been decided by Fianna Fáil cumann.
It will be 1967 all over again.