Vol. 555 No. 1
6 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if it is intended to establish a commission to review constituencies for European Parliament elections in view of population changes identified in the recent census; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17340/02]
15 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he intends to establish the constituency commission to review Dáil Éireann constituencies in view of the recent census figures; the terms of reference that will be given to the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17333/02]
50 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he intends to establish the constituency commission to review Dáil Éireann constituencies in view of the recent census figures; the terms of reference that will be given to the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17338/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 15 and 50 together.
The establishment of a constituency commission to review Dáil and European Parliament constituencies under Part 2 of the Electoral Act, 1997, will be considered when the census report setting out the population of the State classified by area is published by the Central Statistics Office next year.
From the preliminary statistics available it appears there has been a significant change in population. I know the Minister does not want to pre-empt any commission he might set up to deal with the matter.
Under section 15 of the European Parliament Elections Act, 1997, one must have a report from such a commission. This must be considered and a decision made. In view of the European elections and local elections scheduled for June 2004, how soon does the Minister expect the commission to be set up? Has he been in contact with the Central Statistics Office in regard to getting the final report and how soon does he expect to have the commission established? Will he agree there is a need to carry out a review and that this should be done much earlier than the date specified in section 15(2) of the European Parliament Elections Act, 1997, given that it is mandatory that two elections should take place in June 2004?
I expect the formal report from the CSO will be published sometime next year and obviously I must await that. Under section 5 of the Electoral Act, 1997, once the report is published I can put in place the commission. I am sure the members of the commission, no more than myself, are aware of what is coming down the tracks. There is also the prospect of enlargement and what might happen following those elections.
I expect that the formal report from the CSO will be published next year some time. Obviously, I have to wait on that. The Deputy knows that, under section 5 of the Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1997, once the report is published I can put the commission in place. I am sure the members of the commission, no more than myself, are aware of what is coming down the track. I will look at that. There is a prospect of enlargement as well, and its consequences when the elections take place. There are a number of issues involved and it is likely that I will be establishing the commission as soon as I get the published report.
