The Constituency Commission (Irish: An Coimisiún um Thoghlaigh) is an independent statutory body in Ireland, whose remit is to make a report in relation to the constituencies for the election of members to Dáil Éireann and of members to the European Parliament from Ireland. It was established as part of the Electoral Act, 1997.[1]
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The 1997 Act provides that the Chairman of the commission will be a Judge of the Supreme Court or of the High Court. The other members of the commission are the Clerk of the Dáil, the Clerk of the Seanad, the Ombudsman and the Secretary General of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The current members are:
The offices of the commission are in The Custom House, Dublin.
In relation to Dáil constituencies, the commission is required, in observing the relevant provisions of the Constitution of Ireland, to have regard to the following:
The commission invites written submissions in relation to both Dáil and European Parliament constituencies from the general public and from each member of the Dáil and Seanad, and the members of the European Parliament from Ireland, registered political parties and Returning Officers/County Registrars.[2]
The commission presents its report to the Chairman of the Dáil (Ceann Comhairle). The final determination of the constituencies for Dáil Éireann and the European Parliament is a matter for the Oireachtas to prescribe in legislation, as the commission's role is advisory.