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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 May 1989

Vol. 389 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - European Parliament Representation.

4.

asked the Minister for the Environment the steps he has taken at European level to obtain agreement to this State obtaining additional representation in the European Parliament having regard to population changes which have occurred in the State; and the steps he intends taking pursuant to section 12 (2) of the European Assembly Elections Act, 1977 to provide for the revision of the European constituencies.

41.

asked the Minister for the Environment the number of electors and the number of seats in the Munster Euro-constituency and in the Dublin Euro-constituency; when it is intended to redress the imbalance in seats; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

134.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to revise the constituencies for the European Elections in pursuance of section 12 (2) of the European Assembly Election Act, 1977; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 41 and 134 together.

The number of representatives to be elected by each member state to the European Parliament is not determined solely on the basis of population. It would not be appropriate, therefore, to seek a revision of the allocation of seats as between member states purely on the grounds of normal population changes.

The constituencies for which members will be elected to the European Parliament and the number of members to be elected for each constituency at the forthcoming elections are set out in the Second Schedule to the European Assembly Elections Act, 1977. Proposals for the revision of constituencies in accordance with section 12 (2) of that Act will be brought forward in due course.

According to information provided by the registration authorities there are 703,915 electors in the constituency of Munster, which has five seats. The number of electors in the Dublin constituency is 713,185. That constituency has four seats.

Would the Minister confirm that he is aware of the fact that when we were designated as having 15 seats in the European Assembly that was as a result of the returns of the 1971 Census which showed this State to have a population of just under 3 million? Would the Minister now accept that, as a result of the 1986 Census returning a population in excess of 3.5 million, it would be appropriate to see, at a meeting of the Council of Ministers, a review of this country's representation to the European Parliament? Would the Minister not agree that, as a result of the population increases, we are now under-represented and that this State should be entitled to 18 seats in the European Parliament as opposed to 15? Finally, would the Minister not accept that, in the context of the single European market and 1992 approaching, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that at the next European election this country has the full representation at the European parliament to which it is entitled?

No, I do not accept that representation by the Deputy. There is nothing in the European Treaties of Instruments governing direct elections to the European Parliament which requires equality of representation between constituencies. In fact, on average, each Member represents throughout the whole Community, approximately 625,000 people. If we were to go strictly in accordance with population figures that would give us about five or six Members instead of the 15 we now hold. Therefore it will be seen that ourselves and one other country are being treated rather generously. The Deputy quite correctly made the point that the matter has to be reviewed in so far as the revision of constituencies is concerned before 9 December 1989.

Would the Minister not accept that we should seek the maximum possible representation of this country in Europe? Is the Minister now saying that he does not intend to seek that representation or raise that issue and can he indicate what mechanism he intends to put in place with regard to the revision of European constituencies? Is the Minister aware that he has to submit to the Oireachtas proposals for the revision of the constituencies no later than December 1989? Would the Minister indicate to the House whether he will establish a constituency commission with terms of reference agreed by all parties in this House to review and revise the European constituencies?

At least once in every 12 years the Minister for the Environment has to submit to the Oireachtas proposals for the revision of the European constituencies. That will take place before 9 December 1989. I do not accept that we are in any way under-represented in so far as the number of seats is concerned. In fact, with the sole exception of Luxembourg, we have been treated substantially more generously than any of the other member states. As I have said, were we to apply the population criterion only we would be entitled to five or six seats.

Is it not worth raising the issue?

Let us have an answer to Question No. 5 please?

There is nothing to prevent the Minister seeking additional representation.

I have called the next question. Deputy Shatter has had a fair innings on this question. Let us proceed to others. I am calling Question No. 5.

Certainly I am not going to run the risk of losing any.

It is obvious the Minister has no interest in the European Parliament.

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