Mairead McGuinness MEP

McGuinness welcomes clarity on new Euro constituencies

Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness has welcomed the clarity provided by today’s publication of the Constituency Commission report on the new European electoral boundaries.  And she said she looked forward to once again seeking the support of the people of Meath in next year’s European elections.

“We now know the constituency boundaries with around eight months to go until the 2014 European elections in May,” said MS McGuinness, at the National Ploughing Championships in Laois today.

On the changes to the Ireland East constituency, which she has represented for two consecutive terms, she said: “All constituencies have been altered in some way.

'My new constituency of Midlands North West will, however, incorporate five counties which I currently represent: Louth, Meath, Kildare, Offaly and Laois. And added to these will be Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon and Sligo together with Longford and Westmeath which I represented in my first term in the European Parliament.

“It’s a very large constituency from a geographical perspective.   However I know the entire area extremely well. For me my work will not change since the major issues of policy on which I work are common to every county in Ireland. I look forward to once again seeking the support of the people of Meath and the other 14 counties in next year’s elections to enable me to continue with that work,” she said.

Independent MEP, Nessa Childers, has said that because her Ireland East constituency has been merged into other constituencies, it means she will now have to give consideration to which new constituency she might contest.

She said: 'By next May, I will have spent five interesting and challenging years representing the people of Ireland East - essentially the historic province of Leinster. In the campaign, I will be highlighting my experience as an MEP and my track record of hard work and achievement in the Parliament.  For example, I have worked to influence European legislation to regulate and limit tobacco use, especially among young people, and to reduce the cost of vital medicines, and I have been a particularly active member of the Parliament’s Environment Committee.’

She said: 'At this stage, the European Parliament, arguably, has more influence on people’s lives than the Dáil. Austerity is driven from Europe. That is why I want to make next year’s election the first step in the people breaking the stranglehold of conservative free-marketers on the European institutions, starting with the Parliament.'

CONSTITUENCIES 2013

 

The European Parliament Constituencies Committee today (25 September 2013) presented its report on European Parliament constituencies to the Chairman of Dáil Éireann.  

 

The Committee recommends that the State be divided into the following three constituencies for the election in Ireland of 11 members of the European Parliament.

 

A three-seat ‘Dublin’ constituency comprising the counties of: Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin; and the city of Dublin.

 

A four-seat ‘Midlands-North-West’ constituency comprising the counties of: Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath; and the city of Galway.

 

A four-seat ‘South’ constituency comprising the counties of: Carlow, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, North Tipperary, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow; and the cities of Cork, Limerick and Waterford.