Ireland to get two additional EU Parliament seats due to Brexit

The European Parliament this morning voted in favour of a reduction in the size of the Parliament from 751 to 705 seats for the 2019 elections, due to Brexit.

Brexit will mean the Parliament shrinks by 73 - the number of seats currently occupied by British members.

Twenty-seven of the 73 seats will be redistributed to member states to ensure fair representation in the 2019 elections. Ireland will receive two additional seats under the changes.

Mairead McGuinness MEP and first Vice-President of the Parliament welcomed the two additional seats for Ireland.

However, she said she takes "no joy" in the development “as it means there will be no UK MEPs after the 2019 elections - many of them were excellent to work with across a wide policy platform".

"Today's vote also acknowledges that the UK will not contest the 2019 elections. MEPs have recognised that as the EU is getting smaller, the European Parliament should also reduce in size."

“This is a time of change, arising from Brexit and with the UK leaving it is positive that there will be two additional Irish voices in the European Parliament,” McGuinness said.