The delay in bringing forward legislation to implement the recommendations of the Constituency Commission is threatening to undermine the basis for redrawing the boundaries for next year's local elections, Fine Gael Senator Paul Coghlan warned yesterday.
A Government spokesman insisted that the Cabinet had approved the drafting of legislation to give effect to the commission report despite the fact that it is not included on the list of approved legislation for this session.
The issue was raised by Mr Coghlan, who told the Upper House that there was a potential clash over constituency boundaries and those of local electoral divisions as there was no sign of the required legislation in the current parliamentary session.
"Minister [ John] Gormley has already set in train local electoral area boundary committees to report to him by 20th June next. As their terms of reference require Dáil constituency boundaries to be respected, the question arises as to where this leaves the committees in the absence of a measure to give effect to the proposed new Dáil constituencies," said Mr Coghlan.
"In other words, can they rely on the present Dáil constituencies in conducting their review? If so, is the Government waiting for another review of Dáil constituencies to take place before the next general election?"
