Vol. 426 No. 5
47 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment the procedure which will be followed to prepare proposals for the revision of constituencies for elections to the European Parliament; when these proposals will be brought forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
128 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment if he will clarify reports (details supplied) that a commission of five persons under the Chairmanship of the President of the High Court has been established to review the boundaries of Euro constituencies; whether the President of the High Court will be available personally for this work in view of his duties as Chairman of the Beef Tribunal; if not, if a substitute judge will act for him; the timescale and terms of reference of the Commission; when the proposed new boundaries will be announced; and if this will precede the proposed review of Dáil boundaries.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 128 together.
On 10 February last, I announced that the Government had established an Electoral Commission to report on the formation of constituencies for the election of members to the European Parliament.
The commission's terms of reference are:
To report within three months on the formation of constituencies for the election of members to the European Parliament, taking account of the following: (a) the number of members to be elected for any constituency shall not be less than three nor more than five; (b) there should be reasonable equality of representation as between constituencies; (c) each constituency should be composed of contiguous areas; (d) the desirability of avoiding the breaching of county boundaries; (e) geographical considerations including the extent of the proposed constituencies; and (f) the desirability of effecting the minimum changes.
