The Minister for Transport Noel Dempasy said there is a need for “fairly drastic reforms” of the Oireachtas to make it more relevant.
Mr Dempsey said the solution was not reducing the number of TDs but reforming the electoral system which was "not working at the moment".
It was not possible for TDs to concentrate solely on their Oireachtas duties because if they were to do so, they would not be re-elected, he told RTÉ Radio's
This WeekProgramme this afternoon.
He said fundamental change was needed that would also require a stronger system for local government.
"What is going on for the last 10 to 15 years is just a phoney war and there is very, very little constructive debate and I think the Nama debate is a very good example of that," Mr Dempsey said.
Asked whether he though there was a role for the Seanad, he replied: "I am not really sure that there is, at this stage. There is certainly not a role for it in the way that it's either elected at the moment . . ."
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said there was a need to maintain democratic institutions, and it would be the independent electoral commission's job to examine reform in these institutions.
Yesterday, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny committed his party to abolishing Seanad Éireann if he becomes Taoiseach. Mr Kenny told Fine Gael's Presidential Dinner in Dublin last night that he will end Ireland's bicameral system within his first term in Government and also reduce the number of TDs by at least 20.
He also vowed that he would bring in what he called a "drastic reduction" in Minister's pay levels and also introduce a fair and transparent expenses regime for all Oireachtas members.
He said the abolition of the Seanad and the reduction of over 20 TDs would save an estimated €150 million over a full five-year Dáil term.
"I don't want Fine Gael to simply talk about change. I want to demonstrate that we mean what we say. To persuade the electorate that we are serious about change, we ourselves have to embody that change," he told the dinner at City West, which was attended by 1,800 party members.
Mr Kenny also said that a General Election is on it way soon and that Fine Gael is ready to enter government.
"Whenever a General Election happens, the Irish people will want more than a change of faces around the Cabinet table. They will want a Government with a clear vision for Ireland and a plan to make that vision a reality. They will want a Government that is truly committed to radical change. Fine Gael will be that Government."
This afternoon, Fine Gael's finance spokesman Richard Bruton said Government cutbacks would have to start in Leinster House.
"To be credible, public sector transformation must start with politics and with real political leadership. Small and large democracies the world over have shown how effective democratic governance and accountability can be delivered with a unicameral parliament," he said.
"Fine Gael has been arguing for the need for public sector reform for the past decade. Our public service delivery costs are too high cost and fragmented. We need to deliver higher quality public services even in the context of scarce resources."
He said pre-Budget proposals could identify up to 90 Government organisations that could be merged or abolished.