Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

There is currently one five-seat constituency for that county.

Fourth, there will be a reduction of one seat in the constituency of Cork North-Central, reducing to four seats, as well as across counties Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Longford combined. There will be a new constituency configuration in the north Connacht-north Leinster area, with new three-seaters named Sligo-North Leitrim and Roscommon-South Leitrim, and a new four-seater named Longford-Westmeath. That new formation brings to an end the breach of a provincial boundary inherent in the existing Longford-Roscommon constituency, but it involves breaching the boundaries of counties Leitrim and Westmeath. I well understand the concerns that have been expressed on the matter by public representatives from all sides.

In Dublin, the existing profile of 47 seats spread over 12 constituencies is retained, but in a new configuration of three five-seat constituencies, five four-seaters and four three-seaters. The new arrangement transfers a population of almost 31,000 in major boundary adjustments, affecting six constituencies, with minor adjustments affecting four others. The main changes recommended in Dublin are as follows. First, there is to be an extra seat in Dublin Mid-West, currently a three-seat constituency, with the addition from Dublin West of about 12,000 people in the Palmerstown area. Second, there will be a reduction of one seat in Dublin North-Central, currently a four-seater, with the transfer of almost 11,000 people in the Edenmore and Beaumont-Whitehall areas to Dublin North-East and Dublin North-West constituencies respectively. Third, there will be a transfer from Dublin North to Dublin West of almost 4,000 people in the St. Margaret's-Kilsallaghan area to the west of Dublin Airport. Fourth, there will be a transfer from Dublin West to Dublin North-West of about 1,100 in the Dunsink-Cappagh area. Fifth, there will be a transfer from Dublin Central to Dublin South-Central of almost 1,000 people in Islandbridge. Finally, there is to be a transfer from Dublin South to Dublin South-West of almost 2,000 people in the Firhouse area to the west of the M50.

The constituency commission's terms of reference include the avoidance of breaches of county boundaries as far as practicable. The commission's recommendations have on occasion been criticised for not keeping to county, or indeed provincial, boundaries. Although attachment to such boundaries is understandable and is part and parcel of the way we are in this country, the terms of reference of commissions are subordinate to the relevant constitutional provisions, which do not refer to counties or provinces. There is no such mention in the relevant judgments and adjudications mentioned. The High Court judgment of Mr. Justice Budd in the O'Donovan case is most frequently cited. It stated:

although a system in the main based on counties has in fact been adopted, there is nothing in the Constitution about constituencies being based on counties. The Constitution does not say that in forming the constituencies according to the required ratio, that shall be done so far as is practicable having regard to county boundaries.

In other words, there is silence on the county boundaries issue.

The Government has accepted the commission's recommendations as a single package of related measures bringing Dáil constituencies into line with the prevailing population patterns, in accordance with constitutional imperatives and the associated legal requirements. We can all recognise that it might have been possible for the commission to suggest solutions other than those recommended in its report. However, the commission took account of the nearly 100 submissions made to it in formulating its recommendations, and its independent determination of the issues should now be respected. By cherry picking individual recommendations, we would undermine the reasons for establishing an independent commission in the first place. It is the Government's firm view that the precedent of adhering to the commission's advice should not be broken. Consequently, I must advise the House that I cannot foresee circumstances where I will be accepting amendments to the Bill that change the constituency formation recommended by the commission.

To facilitate Members of the House in familiarising themselves with the changes to individual constituencies, I am arranging for Ordnance Survey Ireland to produce maps of each constituency for circulation to Deputies. Members of the House should have those shortly.

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