To Whom It May Concern, 

I hope this submission finds you well as you begin your important work in overseeing and safeguarding our democratic processes by means of a fair and balanced drawing of our constituency boundaries across the country. 

I am writing to you as a concerned citizen to remind you of the Electoral Commission’s previously stated and long-standing ambition to minimise the number of 3-seat constituencies, in order to bring about further proportional representation. 

I would point out that Dublin North West is one such three seat constituency, and that it is important to both ensure its continued existence in the context of what will be radical changes, while also giving rise to the idea that 3 seat constituencies could – with this redraw – be no longer a feature of the landscape in Dublin. This would be a desirable outcome. 

I would like to kindly request that you consider the potential of increasing the number of seats in this constituency, therefore, to four. This would not only ensure the ongoing representation of Dublin North West, but would also contribute to a more proportional electoral outcome for the citizens of this constituency, regardless of party or politics. 

There are a number of ways in which this could be achieved and I don’t intend to be prescriptive, as I believe it will sit within a wider jigsaw puzzle and the Commission will ultimately find a logical way to make the pieces work. While it would strike me that the M50 acting as a boundary to the North and the West may well still be a logical outcome, this is something for the Commission to decide depending on the other changes it needs to make. 

I understand that reconfiguring Dublin constituencies is a necessary exercise due to population increases. However, I believe that by considering both an increase in the seat number for Dublin North West, while ensuring its continued existence as a suburban Northside constituency, you can both address the population shifts and honour the Commission’s commitment to enhancing proportional representation in our electoral system.

I trust that you will give this matter the careful consideration it deserves. I sincerely appreciate your dedication to ensuring a fair and democratic process for all Irish citizens.

I wish you the very best in your ongoing efforts in what will be a truly momentous set of changes to our constituencies.

Yours faithfully,

Noel Rock