What are the relevant provisions of the Constitution?

Answer 1

Introduction

Section 10(2) of the Electoral Act 1997 requires a Constituency Commission to prepare a

statement setting out the relevant provisions of the Constitution in relation to Dáil constituencies

to which the Commission is required to have regard in preparing a report. Section 10(2) also

requires the Commission to prepare statements based on the population as set out in the Census

Report setting out the preliminary results of the Census for Dáil and European Parliament

constituencies. The Commission has prepared this statement in line with those requirements.

A. Dáil constituencies

1. Equality of representation

The constitutional provisions most directly relevant to the functions of the Commission

are those contained in Article 16.2. of the Constitution as follows:

2° "The number of members shall from time to time be fixed by law, but the total

number of members of Dáil Eireann shall not be fixed at less than one member

for each thirty thousand of the population, or at more than one member for each

twenty thousand of the population."

3° "The ratio between the number of members to be elected at any time for each

constituency and the population of each constituency, as ascertained at the last

preceding census, shall, so far as it is practicable, be the same throughout the

country."

4° "The Oireachtas shall revise the constituencies at least once in every twelve