New MEP for expanded 5 seat Midlands - North West constituency recommended  

Ireland’s electoral commission ‘An Coimisiún Toghcháin’ has recommended, that an additional 14th MEP given to Ireland for the 2024 European Parliament elections, will be allocated to the Midlands-North West constituency, 

This comes with the caveat of the counties of Laois and Offaly transferring from the South constituency into the Midlands constituency. 

Ireland was granted the extra seat at the European parliament on foot of its growing population and EU rules regarding its composition.

The recommendations follow a month-long public consultation with submissions received from political parties, elected representatives and interested individuals, according to the independent commission.

They say that recommendations meet the statutory requirements set down for this review that there should be reasonable equality of representation between constituencies; that each constituency must have between 3 and 5 seats; that breaches of county boundaries should be avoided; and that continuity should where possible be maintained.

Chair of the Electoral Commission, Supreme Court Judge, Ms. Justice Marie Baker stated:

“In late September a long-awaited EU decision allocated an additional 14th MEP seat to Ireland, stemming from our growing population and EU rules on the European Parliament’s composition. 

 “Our recommendation is to allocate this additional seat to the Midlands-North West constituency, making it a five-seater and bringing in the counties of Offaly and Laois into that constituency from the South. The Dublin constituency remains unchanged.

“As Ireland’s independent electoral commission, we have worked quickly to ensure this recommendation is brought forward ahead of the statutory schedule. It is now for the Oireachtas to consider and legislate appropriately.”