Written answers

Tuesday, 2 July 2013

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

European Parliament Elections

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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507. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the boundaries for the forthcoming European elections will be confirmed following the accession of Croatia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31620/13]

Photo of Andrew DoyleAndrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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533. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 12 June 2012, if in view of a decision taken at European level to reduce Ireland’s number of MEPs from 12 to 11 at the next European Parliament elections in 2014, the implications it has on the report; if he is considering forming a new Commission to report on electoral boundaries for next year’s European Parliament elections in view of the number of constituencies needing to be revised; if the new report will be taking submissions from the public in a suitable timeframe as per all previous Constituency Commission reports on Dáil and European Parliament boundaries; when submissions will be taken from the public regarding the boundaries; when the Commission will be reporting to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32184/13]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 507 and 533 together.

On 28 June 2013, the European Council adopted a decision on the composition of the European Parliament for the 2014-2019 parliamentary term. This provides for 11 members to be elected in Ireland, a reduction from the present 12 members.

The Electoral, Local Government and Planning and Development Bill 2013, published on 27 June 2013, makes provision for the establishment of a committee to review European Parliament constituencies in the context of a change in the number of MEPs to be elected in Ireland. The provisions generally mirror those in place for a Constituency Commission including the membership but with shorter timelines for receipt of submissions and for presentation of a report to the Chairman of the Dáil.

I intend to establish a committee to review European Parliament constituencies as soon as practicable after enactment of the Bill.

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