The Constituency Commission has proposed a modest revision of European Parliament constituency boundaries which will threaten both the seat of Mr Gerard Collins and the ambitions of Fine Gael for Mr John Bruton.
The commission's report, published yesterday, proposes some revisions in the boundaries and reductions in the numbers of seats in some of the existing constituencies. Changes are necessitated by the reduction in Ireland's representation in the European Parliament, agreed in the Nice Treaty, from 15 to 13.
The commission's proposals, almost certain to be approved by the Government, would reduce the Leinster and Munster constituencies from four to three seats each. Co Clare would be transferred from the Munster constituency to the current Connacht/ Ulster constituency, which would remain a three-seater. The boundary of the Dublin constituency remains the county boundary with the number of seats unchanged at four.
The commission also recommends that the constituencies be named Dublin, East (formerly Leinster), South (formerly Munster), and North-West (formerly Connacht Ulster).