As a result of Brexit, Ireland has been allocated two additional seats in the European Parliament. The Houses have passed the European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2019, which sets out the criteria for these elections and how the seats will be filled. As the UK will not be leaving by the time of the European elections, Ireland South will immediately return four seats while Dublin will return three seats. The fifth candidate in Ireland South and the fourth in Dublin will, in effect, enter a limbo. The Taoiseach indicated last Friday in Midleton that due to the uncertainty around Brexit and the reality that the UK will contest the European elections, two separate counts may happen in each constituency. For example, in Dublin, there will be an initial count for three seats with a quota of 25% plus one while another count will be carried out with a quota of 20% plus one for a fourth seat with the final elected candidate in that eventuality sitting in a reserved seat. I want to be clear. Is this the case? Was the Taoiseach accurate when he said this in Midleton? If he was not, will such a double count, which could have a very bizarre conclusion, require further amending legislation?

I thank the Deputy for his question. We had the opportunity to clarify this at the Oireachtas committee yesterday. Based on taking precautionary advice that the UK may not have left the EU by the time the European elections take place, we passed legislation that was taken by the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, through the Houses to allow for such a contingency. There will be one count - one count in Dublin for the four seats and one count in Ireland South for the five seats. Deputy Howlin is correct to state that as the UK will be contesting those elections and potentially sending people to the European Parliament if it does that, the fourth person in Dublin and the fifth person in Ireland South will not take their seats until the UK and its MEPs have left. We continue to communicate with the Commission through the Tánaiste's office as to what arrangements it is putting in place for those people. We do not expect they will be getting a salary or any benefits but do not yet know the type of arrangements they might have with the European Parliament in terms of visiting and other forms of participation. That work is continuing.