Local MEP Colm Markey has criticised the decision of the Electoral Commission not to include the proposed extra MEP seat for Ireland in an upcoming review of constituency boundaries. The Department of Local Government has confirmed that the report, due out today, will be based on the existing 13-seat allocation, rather than the proposed new allocation of 14 seats.
Mr Markey, who represents the EU Midlands-North-West constituency, said the Commission should have considered all options. He pointed out that the European Council announced in July that Ireland would receive one extra MEP.
He added that because the measure is not legally in effect, the Commission ignored is now faced with preparing a revised report once the decision is ratified by the Parliament. "It is ridiculous to think that the Commission cannot even consider the measure, subject to the changes being officially approved," he continued.
"Given the EU election is just nine months away, this issue should have been made a priority. It's important to point out that the delay is ratifying the proposal is down to the European Council and not the Parliament. We saw countries bickering for months about the best way to proceed before a final decision was reached last month.
"We now know that the European Parliament will increase in size from the current 705 seats to 720 but Irish MEPs still don't know where the extra seat for Ireland will go and whether there will be changes to the EU constituencies as a result."
