Ireland's Midlands North-West to get extra European Parliament seat

It means that Ireland South and Midlands North-West will have five seats apiece, while Dublin will have four

(Left to right) Simon Coveney, Leo Varadkar and Mairead McGuinness. In Midlands North-West, Fine Gael officials were understood to he considering dropping Colm Markey off the ticket to allow for room for Ms McGuinness, the outgoing European Commissioner. File picture

Ireland will have an extra member of the European Parliament amid a rejig of constituencies.

It was confirmed in September that Ireland would get an extra MEP, prompting a review by the Electoral Commission, which has opted to retain the existing constituencies, but add Laois and Offaly to Midlands North-West and bestow the extra seat on that region.