Sir, – The population of almost 5.15 million reported in the detailed census data from the 2021 census is a story of growth both in terms of natural increase in population and inward migration, and is a good news story for several reasons. However, this will continue to pose challenges for the Government in the provision of services for the expanding population, and there is an argument to be made for an increase in the size of the public sector to provide these services to the larger population.
Implicit in this 8 per cent increase in population since the 2016 census is a requirement to increase the number of TDs to comply with constitutional requirements. To maintain the ratio of one TD to 30,000 people (maximum) the Dáil will have to increase in size to at least 172 members, and this is currently being assessed by the Electoral Commission. If the current 8 per cent population increase continues (a not entirely unreasonable assumption), the Dáil will have approximately 185 TDs after the 2026 census, rising to a minimum of 200 after the 2031 census, based on a population of just over six million. Whatever about increasing the number of public sector workers to deliver services to these six million people, do we seriously think that we will require at least 200 members in the Dáil to run the country with that population? Surely it is time for the constitutional requirement for one TD per 30,000 people to be reviewed. A parliament size more in line with international norms (relative to population), along with a proper system of local government, would be much better able to meet the needs of our citizens in the decades ahead. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN KELLEHER,
Ballinteer,
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Dublin 16.
Sir, – I was interested by the form of words used by your correspondents to describe Catholics in your coverage of the census.
Ronan McGreevy referred to census respondents “who called themselves Catholics” (News, May 31st), while Carl O’Brien referred to “people who identified as Catholics” (News, May 31st). In contrast, they described adherents to other religions simply as Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs, and Quakers, and not as “people who called themselves” Muslims, Hindus, etc.
The suggestion appears to be that, even with the drop in numbers, a significant proportion of those who told the CSO that they are Catholics are not really Catholics – they just “call themselves” or “identify as” such, for reasons unknown.
Your correspondents didn’t (and would never) suggest this of adherents of other faiths, as this would clearly be deeply insulting. So why is it acceptable to do so in relation to Catholics?
In advance of the census, humanist groups mounted a well-funded online campaign calling on people not to tick the Roman Catholic box, and the form itself was skewed by the bizarre decision to list “no religion” as the first option before the full list of faiths (any politician can tell you how valuable it is to be the first option listed on a ballot paper).
Against all of this, it’s actually a remarkably positive outcome for Irish Catholicism that our number has fallen by just 180,000 in absolute terms, particularly when you consider that at least 130,000 Catholics have died since the last census. – Yours, etc,
BARRY WALSH,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
A chara, – Raised as Catholic in a Catholic family, and schooled by the Christian Brothers, it would have been disingenuous and misleading to answer in any other fashion except positively. However I, my siblings and the vast majority of my friends have long since abandoned active participation in religion.
The census findings in the area of religion are so misleading as to be essentially useless. – Is mise,
NIALL Ó CLÉIRIGH,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Desmond Crowley (June 1st) regrets that the census did not avail of the opportunity to enquire about sexual orientation or gender identity. Experts in the field now recognise at least 47 terms to describe varieties of sexual orientation, attraction and behaviour. A tick box for each of these and there’d scarcely be any room left on the form for one’s name and address, let alone to investigate whether you go to Mass regularly. – Yours, etc,
RONAN McDERMOTT,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – About 1,800 people identified as Jedi Knights in the recent census.
What planet are they on? – Yours, etc,
PAVEL MARIANSKI,
Dungarvan,
Co Waterford.