Vol. 559 No. 5
370 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he intends to establish a commission to set boundaries for constituencies for the European Parliament elections, 2004, in view of the ratification of the Nice treaty and the report of the 2001 census; and the terms of reference of same. [26354/02]
371 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the boundary commission established to set the boundaries for constituencies for the European Parliament elections, 2004, will be instructed to divide the country into three, four or five seat constituencies as has been done in the past in view of the ratification of the Nice treaty and the report of the 2001 census; and if it will be instructed to follow a different formula. [26355/02]
372 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he intends to establish a boundary commission to establish new local electoral area boundaries in Dublin and outside Dublin on the basis of the findings of the 2001 census; when the commission will report; if the recommendations of same will come into force for the 2004 elections; and if the commission will be empowered to vary the number of councillors in each council. [26356/02]
378 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if the provisions of the Nice treaty regarding the European Parliament seat allocation for Ireland mean that there will be a reduction in the number of seats allocated to Ireland in the 2004 European elections; and when he will be in a position to make a statement on the matter clarifying the position with regard to the seat allocation for the 2004 European elections. [26651/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 370, 371, 372 and 378 together.
I refer to the replies to Questions Nos. 221 and 222 of 6 November 2002 and No. 425 of 10 December 2002.
