Bill to implement changes in constituencies published

A BILL giving effect to the constituency changes recommended by the independent Constituency Commission last year has been published by Minister for the Environment John Gormley.

There was unhappiness across the political spectrum at some of the proposed changes, including the transfer of part of Co Offaly into North Tipperary, the creation of the new Kerry North-West Limerick constituency and the continued division of Leitrim.

Shortly after his election as Taoiseach, Brian Cowen suggested that the Dáil might discuss the report to establish if there was an all-party consensus on the matter.

However, the Government has now gone ahead with the publication of the Bill enacting the commission’s report. It will be debated in the Dáil in the autumn.

One provision in the Bill will trigger a new constituency review immediately after the publication of the next preliminary census figures in the summer of 2011 rather than awaiting the publication of the final report in April of the following year.

It means that the next election could be held on entirely new constituencies if it does not take place before the spring of 2012.

While the Bill was described by Labour leader, Eamon Gilmore, as a lost opportunity to fundamentally revamp the way in which Dáil constituencies are reviewed, to ensure a more open and transparent process, it was defended by a spokesman for the Minister.

The spokesman said that the establishment of the electoral commission, as promised in the programme for government, will enable a full debate on the way the constituency boundaries are redrawn as well as on the wider issue of the electoral system.

Mr Gilmore welcomed the provision in the Bill that to allow the Constituency Commission begin the process of reviewing the constituencies once the preliminary census figures become available.

“However, it is a great pity that Mr Gormley has made no provision to allow the commission to publish a draft report and invite further submissions from the public and interested parties before reaching its final conclusions. This would at least allow people who believe that a particular recommendation is illogical, irrational or inconsistent with the commission’s own terms of reference, to make that point.”

He also said the Labour Party was disappointed that the Minister was re-enacting the provision that restricts the commission to drawing up only three, four or five-seat constituencies. “As a general rule larger constituencies provide a greater degree of proportionality.” Mr Gilmore also said that it was of serious concern that Mr Gormley had not introduced any provision to limit the money that candidates can spend in next year’s local elections.