European Parliament constituencies in the Republic of Ireland

Summary

Ireland has 13 seats in the European Parliament. Elections are held on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV). At the election for the Ninth European Parliament held in 2019, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were elected from the following constituencies:

Constituency Area Seats
Dublin The counties of: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin;

and the city of Dublin.

4
Midlands–North-West The counties of: Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Kildare, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath;

and the city of Galway.

4
South The counties of: Carlow, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow;

the cities and counties of Limerick and Waterford; and the city of Cork.

5

At the election for the Tenth European Parliament to be held in 2024, MEPs will be elected from the following constituencies:[1]

Constituency Area Seats
Dublin The counties of: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin;

and the city of Dublin.

4
Midlands–North-West The counties of: Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath;

and the city of Galway.

5
South The counties of: Carlow, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow;

the cities and counties of Limerick and Waterford; and the city of Cork.

5


In June 2023, the European Parliament adopted a resolution to add 11 MEPs. Ireland would gain one MEP under this arrangement, increasing from 13 to 14.[2][3] This was adopted by the European Council in September 2023.[4] The Electoral Commission sought submissions on a review of European Parliament Constituencies.[5] In a report in November 2023, it recommended that the additional seat be given to the constituency of Midlands–North-West, with the transfer of County Laois and County Offaly from South.[6][7] This change was implemented by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023.

Changes edit

This lists the number of MEPs elected at each European Parliament election by constituency.[8]

Election Constituencies Total seats
(1973) (MEPs nominated by Oireachtas) 10[9]
Dublin Leinster Munster Connacht–Ulster
1979 4 3 5 3 15
1984 4 3 5 3 15
1989 4 3 5 3 15
1994 4 4 4 3 15
1999 4 4 4 3 15
Dublin East South North-West
2004 4 3 3[a] 3[a] 13
2009 3 3[b] 3 3[b] 12
Dublin South Midlands–North-West
2014 3 4[c][d] 4[d][e] 11[10]
2019 4[f] 5[g][f] 4[g] 13[11]
2024 4 5[h] 5[h] 14
  1. ^ a b County Clare moved from Munster/South to Connacht–Ulster/North–West.
  2. ^ a b Counties Longford and Westmeath moved from East to North–West.
  3. ^ Counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow moved from East to South.
  4. ^ a b County Clare moved from North-West/Midlands–North-West to South.
  5. ^ Counties of Kildare, Laois, Louth, Meath, Offaly and Westmeath moved from East to North-West/Midlands–North-West.
  6. ^ a b The last candidate elected in 2019 in Dublin and in South did not take their seat until after the United Kingdom had left the EU on 31 January 2020.
  7. ^ a b Counties Laois and Offaly moved from Midlands–North-West to South.
  8. ^ a b Counties Laois and Offaly to move from South to Midlands–North-West.

European Parliament constituencies since 1979 edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023, s. 5: Amendment of European Parliament Elections Act 1997 (No. 40 of 2023, s. 5). Enacted on 19 December 2023. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 22 February 2024.
  2. ^ Cunningham, Paul (16 March 2023). "Ireland to gain seat in next European Parliament term". RTÉ News. RTÉ News.
  3. ^ Meskill, Tommy (15 June 2023). "Ireland set to gain extra EU Parliament seat". RTÉ News. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  4. ^ European Council Decision (EU) 2023/2061 of 22 September 2023 establishing the composition of the European Parliament
  5. ^ "Review of European Parliament Constituencies". Electoral Commission. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  6. ^ Burns, Sarah (20 November 2023). "Extra European Parliament seat recommended for Midlands-North West". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Review of European Parliament Constituencies Report 2023" (PDF). Electoral Commission. 20 November 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  8. ^ Main reference: Constituency Commission (23 October 2007). "Chapter 6: European Parliament Constituencies" (PDF). Report on Dáil and European Parliament Constituencies 2007. pp. 37–43. Retrieved 23 October 2007.
  9. ^ "Appointment of Delegates to the Assembly of European Communities: Motion.". Parliamentary Debates: Seanad Éireann. Government of Ireland. 20 December 1972. pp. Vol. 73, pp.1460–61. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
  10. ^ "Report on European Parliament Constituencies 2013" (PDF). Constituency Commission. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  11. ^ "Dublin and Ireland South to gain extra European Parliament seats". RTÉ News. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.