Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As a result of Brexit, Ireland has been allocated two additional seats in the European Parliament. The Houses have passed the European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2019, which sets out the criteria for these elections and how the seats will be filled. As the UK will not be leaving by the time of the European elections, Ireland South will immediately return four seats while Dublin will return three seats. The fifth candidate in Ireland South and the fourth in Dublin will, in effect, enter a limbo. The Taoiseach indicated last Friday in Midleton that due to the uncertainty around Brexit and the reality that the UK will contest the European elections, two separate counts may happen in each constituency. For example, in Dublin, there will be an initial count for three seats with a quota of 25% plus one while another count will be carried out with a quota of 20% plus one for a fourth seat with the final elected candidate in that eventuality sitting in a reserved seat. I want to be clear. Is this the case? Was the Taoiseach accurate when he said this in Midleton? If he was not, will such a double count, which could have a very bizarre conclusion, require further amending legislation?

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