The Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland has today published the "Revised Recommendations for Parliamentary Constituencies in Northern Ireland" prepared by the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Boundary Commission.

The Revised Recommendations follow three public local inquiries which were held into the Commission's Provisional Recommendations (published on 29 April 2004). In reaching decisions on the Revised Recommendations the Commission has accepted, wherever practicable to do so, the recommendations of the Independent Assistant Commissioners who conducted these inquiries.

The Revised Recommendations continue to provide for 18 constituencies and revise the boundaries of 12 constituencies.

The Commission must consider all representations on the Revised Recommendations received within one month of their publication.

I will, of course, report back to Parliament once the Commission has submitted its final recommendations to me.