Boundary Commission To Hold Further Hearings

The Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland is holding  hearings on the Provisional Proposals for the New Parliamentary Constituencies.

The Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland will hold its third public hearing in the Ramada Hotel, Shaw’s bridge, Belfast on Thursday 20 October 2016.

The one-day hearing will provide an opportunity for people to make oral representations about the Commission’s Provisional Proposals, which were published on the 6th September 2016.

The remaining public hearings will be held at the following venues before the consultation period closes on 28th November 2016:

20th October 2016: Ramada Plaza Hotel, Shaw’s Bridge, BELFAST

( 25th October 2016: Seagoe Hotel, Upper Church Lane, PORTADOWN)

The hearings operate over three sessions: 10am to 1.00pm, then 2.00pm to 4.00pm concluding with an evening session 6.00pm to 8.00pm

Anyone wishing to attend and/or present oral evidence during the hearing should register online at:

www.bcni.eventbrite.com

or on the morning of the hearing for the purpose of arranging a timetable of speakers.

Secretary to the Commission, Eamonn McConville, said: “The public hearings already held in Ballymena and Omagh were very informative, so the Commission would really encourage people to come along to the remaining hearings and tell us what they like about the Provisional Proposals or how they think the proposals can be improved. All information received during the public consultations will be considered by the Commission in deciding whether the Provisional Proposals should be amended.”

He added: “Representations can also be made online at BCNI2018.uk or in writing before the 28th November when the public consultation closes”.

The 2018 Review began on 24th February 2016 and, informed by public consultation, will determine how best to decrease the number of Northern Ireland constituencies from 18 to 17, as required by the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011.