asked the Minister for Local Government if it is intended to readjust constituency boundaries to accord with any shifts in population revealed by the forthcoming census.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Constituency Boundaries.
47.
When the results of the forthcoming census are available the question of revising the constituencies will be considered in relation to the appropriate constitutional provisions.
On this occasion will the Minister invite members of other parties to examine the proposals he might——
That is a separate question.
I am not asking a supplementary question on the question; I am asking a supplementary question on the reply I received. Will the Minister consider inviting members of other parties to assist him in the redrafting of the constituency boundaries if and when that is necessary?
He will invite Kevin Boland.
It has not yet been determined whether any redrafting will be necessary.
In the interests of democracy will the Minister inform the House whether he personally would be disposed to invite members of other parties to assist him in the redrafting of constituency boundaries?
The question is hypothetical.
Will the Minister explain what he means by constitutional provisions?
Subsections (1) to (4) of section 2 of Article 16 are the relevant provisions in the Constitution.
When will the result of the census be known?
As the House knows, the census will take place in April and it is expected that the preliminary results will be available in August, 1971, but the final results should be available between 12 and 18 months after the date of the census.
When the Minister stated the question was hypothetical did he mean that he may not be a Minister when the redrafting takes place?