A High Court challenge by two Independent TDs and election candidates to the constitutionality of the manner in which Dáil constituencies have been revised is expected to be heard next Thursday.
Dublin North Central TD Finian McGrath and Kildare North TD Catherine Murphy are challenging the constitutionality of provisions of the Electoral Amendment Act 2005, which defines constituency boundaries.
Following an analysis by them of the final 2006 census figures released last month, the TDs say the census figures show a number of constituencies - including their own constituencies - where people will be over-represented and others where they will be under-represented.
They claim the revised constituencies breach the constitutional provisions guaranteeing fair and equal representation of voters.
It is claimed the final census figures show that 11 of the 43 constituencies nationally will be in breach of Article 16 of the Constitution.
This requires that every constituency, as far as practicable, have the same TD ratio per population of constituency.
The deputies want a declaration that the Minister for Local Government and the Attorney General have failed in their constitutional obligation to ensure that, in revising the constituencies, due regard was paid to changes in the population distribution as set out in the census.
The defendants have failed, it is alleged, to ensure that the constituencies are drawn by law so as to ensure a ratio of not less than one TD member to each 30,000 of population, and not more than one TD for each 20,0000 of population.
If necessary, the applicant TDs will also seek a court order directing the defendants to revise the constituencies in the light of the result of the 2006 census.
They contend the State is required to ensure, prior to the general election, that the constituencies are revised in compliance with constitutional obligations.
When the case was mentioned in court yesterday, Gerard Hogan SC, for the TDs, told Mr Justice Frank Clarke that it was likely to take two days.
The judge fixed a provisional hearing date for next Thursday.
He had indicated to the sides earlier that the court would do its best to deal with the challenge before the general election.