Strong opposition is expected from within Fianna Fail to Government plans to reform the electoral system, to be announced by the end of this week.
However, the Progressive Democrats have supported the idea during the recent review of the Programme for Government, and sources in both Government parties confirmed yesterday that the review will include a commitment to change the way TDs are elected.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, will meet before the end of the week to finalise the mid-term review document.
While the Progressive Democrats are enthusiastic supporters of the idea, most deputies in the other main parties appear to be strongly opposed.
A list system where a party such as the PDs, which won 4.6 per cent of the vote in the last two general elections, would secure a small number of Dail seats would be much more attractive to that party than the current system in which an individual candidate typically needs to garner 12 to 14 per cent of the vote to ensure election in a five-seat constituency.
Mr John Gormley, of the Green Party, said last night that the introduction of a list system as part of electoral reform would not threaten small parties, and that he would support it.
But most TDs are understood to have come out against change in a survey carried out recently by the All-Party Committee on the Constitution. There are understood to have been clear majorities against change among Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour deputies.
The Government will seek to defuse opposition to electoral reform this week by stressing the desirability of cross-party support for change and putting forward no specific model of its own.
One source maintained last night that a lack of cross-party support "won't stop the Government from pursuing this objective". But a referendum would be needed to change the electoral system and the Government would face serious difficulties in winning public approval for changes opposed by the Opposition.
While the revised Programme for Government will contain a commitment to reform within the lifetime of the Fianna Fail-PD coalition, the issue will in the first instance be considered by the All-Party Committee on the Constitution.
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, has for some time favoured a system whereby a certain number of TDs would be elected in single-seat constituencies - as opposed to the present multi-seat constituencies - with the remainder being elected on a national "list" system. Supporters of this model maintain that it would ensure that deputies, particularly those elected from the national list, could spend more time on legislation and less on constituency work.
However, Mr Dempsey's suggestions have also included a reduction in the number of deputies from 166 to 120. This proposal has aroused strong opposition from politicians of all parties, but while it has turned many TDs off the whole idea of electoral reform, it would have a populist appeal which would help win support for a reform in a referendum.
The PDs will this month publish a policy document calling for radical electoral reform.
Fine Gael's environment spokesman, Mr Alan Dukes, said yesterday his party was not convinced of the need for such change. "At least the present system is democratic and gives voters a choice. A list system places a lot of power and influence in the hands of the party machine."
Labour's spokesman, Mr Eamon Gilmore, said the issue should be dealt with only on an all-party basis. He suggested "the Fianna Fail family" was "trying to construct an overall majority with 40 per cent support".