Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 3, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following:

2.—Section 6(2)(b) of the Electoral Act 1997 is amended by the insertion after 'five' of '(or where necessary to avoid the breaching of a county boundary, six)'.".

Amendment No. 2 arises from Committee Stage, on which we addressed in particular the issue of County Leitrim and the sense of grievance that it is being divided. One part of the county is to be included in a Sligo-Leitrim constituency, while the other will be included in a Roscommon-Leitrim constituency. Amendment No. 2 seeks to provide terms of reference to the next boundary commission to allow it to recommend constituencies of six members where it is necessary to avoid the breaching of a county boundary.

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