Tánaiste urges against tabling amendments to constituency boundary

The Electoral Commission is to publish its recommendations next week

Tánaiste Michéal Martin says it would be chaotic 'if one gets into a position where you have individual TDs or groups tabling amendments'. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Tánaiste Michéal Martin says it would be chaotic 'if one gets into a position where you have individual TDs or groups tabling amendments'. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

The Tánaiste has urged against tabling amendments to any changes that may be suggested in the constituency boundary changes report.

Recommendations by the Electoral Commission are set to be published next week. It comes after the latest census in May found that Ireland’s population had increased by 8 per cent to 5.15 million.

Speaking in Dublin on Friday, Michéal Martin said the boundaries were drawn by an independent commission.

“There will be complaints, I’m always relatively calm about these things: it did affect my constituency the last time,” he said. “It is difficult, it is challenging particularly for Dublin where constituencies change quite significantly.

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“It will be significant for individuals, for parties, but also for the Oireachtas in terms of the expansion of the Oireachtas, which I think is a good thing.

“But if one gets into a position where you have individual TDs or groups tabling amendments, that would be chaotic.”