Comments on: Europe 2009 – Ireland http://www.tallyroom.com.au/1318 Elections and politics in Australia and around the world. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:46:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Ben Raue http://www.tallyroom.com.au/1318/comment-page-1#comment-2935 Ben Raue Tue, 19 May 2009 16:14:31 +0000 http://www.tallyroom.com.au/?p=1318#comment-2935 Well, that's the electoral system Ireland uses. Unlike the UK, Ireland's national electoral system is permissable under EU electoral law. So they have 4 constituencies of 3 each. In elections to the Dail all constituencies have 3-5 TDs each. I guess they could split it 5-4-3 or 4-4-4, but it's worth remembering that 12 is the smallest number Ireland has had. From the first direct EP election in 1979 until 2004 Ireland had 15 MEPs, so they originally split the Republic into Dublin, Leinster, Munster and Connacht-Ulster. In 2004 the redistribution resulted in Connacht-Ulster expanding, so the seats were renamed to Dublin, East, South and North-West respectively. So in the original election, they had a 5-seater, a 4-seater and two 3-seaters. I guess if their numbers keep falling they will have to reduce the number of constituencies. Well, that’s the electoral system Ireland uses. Unlike the UK, Ireland’s national electoral system is permissable under EU electoral law.

So they have 4 constituencies of 3 each. In elections to the Dail all constituencies have 3-5 TDs each.

I guess they could split it 5-4-3 or 4-4-4, but it’s worth remembering that 12 is the smallest number Ireland has had.

From the first direct EP election in 1979 until 2004 Ireland had 15 MEPs, so they originally split the Republic into Dublin, Leinster, Munster and Connacht-Ulster. In 2004 the redistribution resulted in Connacht-Ulster expanding, so the seats were renamed to Dublin, East, South and North-West respectively.

So in the original election, they had a 5-seater, a 4-seater and two 3-seaters. I guess if their numbers keep falling they will have to reduce the number of constituencies.

]]> By: David Walsh http://www.tallyroom.com.au/1318/comment-page-1#comment-2934 David Walsh Tue, 19 May 2009 15:24:57 +0000 http://www.tallyroom.com.au/?p=1318#comment-2934 With only 12 MEPs, one wonders why they bother dividing up the map into four constituencies. Ireland really ought to vote as a unitary state. With only 12 MEPs, one wonders why they bother dividing up the map into four constituencies.

Ireland really ought to vote as a unitary state.

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