| Legislature: | Oireachtas |
| Long Title: | AN ACT TO FIX THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF DÁIL ÉIREANN AND TO REVISE THEIR CONSTITUENCIES AND TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF SUCH MEMBERS. |
| Citation: | No. 33 of 1959 |
| Date Signed: | 26 November 1959 |
| Date Commenced: | 26 November 1959 (in part) |
| Bill Citation: | No. 34 of 1959 |
| Bill Date: | 22 July 1959 |
| Introduced By: | Minister for Local Government (Neil Blaney) |
| Status: | Struck down |
| Repealed By: | Electoral (Amendment) Act 1961 |
| Date Repealed: | 14 July 1961 |
The Electoral (Amendment) Act 1959 (No. 33) was a law in Ireland which sought to revise Dáil constituencies.[1] It was found to be repugnant to the Constitution and never came into effect.
It was challenged by John O'Donovan, a Fine Gael senator and former TD. In O'Donovan v. Attorney-General (1961), the High Court held that the Act was unconstitutional and suggested that the ratio of representation to population across constituencies should differ by no more than 5%. The court, interpreting the "so far as it is practicable" condition of the Constitution, suggested a 5% variation as the limit without exceptional circumstances.[2]
It was formally repealed by the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1961.[3]