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Minister Murphy establishes Constituency Committee to review European Parliament constituencies

Eoghan Murphy, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, made an order under section 5(1A) of the Electoral Act 1997 establishing an independent committee to report on European Parliament constituencies.

In accordance with the 1997 Act, the Chief Justice has nominated the Hon. Mr. Justice Robert Haughton to act as chairperson of the committee. The other members of the committee, as set out in the Act, are:

  • the Secretary General of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government  (Mr. John McCarthy), 
  • the Ombudsman, (Mr. Peter Tyndall), 
  • the Clerk of the Dáil (Mr. Peter Finnegan), and 
  • the Clerk of the Seanad (Mr. Martin Groves).


The Committee is required to report to the chairman of the Dáil no later than two months after its establishment (i.e. by 24 September 2018).

The European Council on 28 June 2018 made a decision on the number of MEPs to be elected for the 2019–2024 parliamentary term. This provides for 13 members to be elected in Ireland, an increase from the present 11 members. A review of European Parliament constituencies is therefore necessary; this will involve, among other things, a public consultation process.