A chara, – Jason Fitzharris (Letters, August 31st) raises the question of fixing the number of TDs and compares us to parliaments of countries with similar populations, where the numbers vary from 120 to 200 members.
While I think we do need to consider a ceiling on the number of national parliamentarians, this debate cannot happen without looking at the function of a national parliament and the balance of responsibilities between local and national government.
Ireland is the most centralised of all of the countries that Mr Fitzharris mentions and we have a very weak system of local government. And while we have similar numbers of national politicians to similar-sized countries, we have the lowest number of locally elected representatives in comparison, with the exception of New Zealand. All other countries have far more powerful local government systems.
In Ireland, we elect 949 county and city councillors. Using the countries that he cites, the numbers of locally and regional elected representatives are Finland (8,859), Denmark (2,432), Norway (6,420), Croatia (14,430), Slovakia (2,927), and New Zealand (936). – Is mise,
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Senator MALCOLM BYRNE,
Fianna Fáil,
Seanad Éireann,
Dublin 2.
Sir, – Roger Flack (Letters, August 31st ) and Garrett Cormican (Letters, August 30th), along with other letter writers and commentators, have questioned whether adjustments such as a constitutional referendum could be undertaken to reduce the number of TDs required in line with population both now and into the future.
This may seem like a popular perspective to some but there should be consideration afforded to the fact that ultimately having an appropriate number of TDs is underpinned by the need for adequate levels of representative service provision as it would be for any other profession.
Currently (albeit set to be changed by the addition of an extra seat recommended by the Electoral Commission) the Dáil constituency of Dublin Rathdown, for example, has three TDs for a population of just over 100,000.
If it were the case that there were only three GPs, solicitors or dentists serving that population catchment including Stillorgan, Dundrum, Mount Merrion and Clonskeagh, it would be inevitable that there would be complaints about them being inundated with the body of work overseen, even with supporting staff.
Existing TDs have to contend with a significant volume of representation requests each day along with legislative work and in some cases ministerial duties. I fail to see what would be the merits of introducing measures to effectively lead to this average volume of inbound work increasing even further.
I doubt anyone would put forward an argument that existing teachers should be able to manage on average 10 extra pupils in a classroom amid anticipated population growth.
Also constituents and residents’ associations should continue to have a good variety of choice in TDs they can approach should they have a matter requiring due attention. – Yours, etc,
Cllr JOHN KENNEDY,
(Fine Gael)
Dún Laoghaire
Rathdown County
Council Offices,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – The decision to retain the Donegal constituency as a single five-seater is to be regretted. I’ve lived in west Donegal for nine years and have never been to the Inishowen peninsula. There are no economic or social links between the two areas and Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil treat them as separate by selecting two candidates with a base in each.
Bundoran, however, is much visited and is an integral part of the social, economic and political fabric of Donegal, but again finds itself appended to the “mongrel” Sligo-Leitrim constituency.
A missed opportunity. – Yours, etc,
KENNETH HARPER,
Burtonport,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – It is interesting to note the increase in Dáil seats is based on what was written into the Constitution over 86 years ago that there should be one TD for every 20,000 to 30,000 of the population. Would we be better served if the Constitution provided for an analysis of TD attendance, contribution to chamber debates, legislation introduced or a list of tasks completed on behalf of constituents? – Yours, etc,
SHANE DALY,
Leopardstown,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – Article 16.2 of the Constitution requires that the ratio of TDs to the population to be the same throughout the country as far as practicable. Some leeway or discretion is recognised by the courts as permissible but we are now entering uncharted waters with the recommendations of the Electoral Commission published today. There has never been the variance now proposed.
Mayo will have 27,594 people per TD while Donegal will have 31,540 per TD. Perhaps Mayo people are more deserving of representation than Donegal people, although I think not. This is a variance of almost 4,000 per TD.
How can this be justified as being the “same” representation? It is not “as far as practicable”.
Donegal people are also entitled to vote in a constituency of no more than 30,000 per TD or that only breaches the 30,000 limit where reasonably essential. The new commission is skating on thin ice.
The Oireachtas should be slow to enact the new boundaries. I can feel a constitutional challenge coming on. – Yours, etc,
CIARAN O’MARA,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Constituency boundaries should be set to treat all candidates equally and to ensure that the number of TDs elected from each party reflects the voting preferences of the electorate.
Currently, candidates for smaller parties are less likely to be elected in three-seat constituencies than in five-seat constituencies. Consequently, electors in three-seat constituencies wishing to vote for smaller parties are partially disenfranchised as such votes are less valuable than identical votes in five-seat constituencies.
Furthermore, it cannot be right that one’s chance of being elected varies depending on the number of seats in a constituency.
With this in mind, I respectfully submit that all constituencies should be five-seat constituencies.
I am not a member of any political party. Over the years I have given my first-preference vote to both large and small parties. – Yours, etc,
DAVID ALGEO,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – I note that Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has stated that the number of TDs shouldn’t increase “ad nauseam” (News, August 31st).
I think most people would agree that the “ad nauseam” threshold has been reached long before the latest proposed increase is implemented. – Yours, etc,
SEAMUS REYNOLDS,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – One of the consequences of the terms of reference of the Electoral Commission when considering boundary changes is that there is always someone who will not be happy at a part of their local area being hived off and placed in a neighbouring constituency.
One correspondent to The Irish Times (Letters, August 31st) complains that it is outrageous to disregard the integrity of his local area by dividing it between two constituencies. But one must ask what is the actual practical effect of this? I would suggest there is none, bearing in mind that it is not the job of a TD to act like a local councillor. In fact, it should be viewed in a more sanguine way by realising that the village will now be represented by two TDs. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN McMAHON,
Naas,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – Perhaps we should have a citizens’ assembly on the composition and number of TDs for a modern Ireland.
Our TDs would certainly take interest in any proposed constitutional change. – Yours, etc,
AIDAN RODDY,
Cabinteely,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – Having taken a bite-size chunk from the old Dublin Fingal constituency, and naming it Dublin Fingal East, I find it somewhat bewildering that, in living on the eastern boundary of the old Dublin Fingal constituency, the Electoral Commission has somehow determined that I now reside in Dublin Fingal West. Which way is north? – Yours, etc,
PAUL WALSH,
Skerries,
Co Dublin.