Sir, – In the ongoing search for a reform of Irish democracy, a key element which has not been questioned is the multi-party system. It injures democracy in three ways. It allows party managers to dictate the voting decisions of TDs and, in cases of disobedience, to limit the nonconformists’ contributions to the Dáil.
In general elections, political parties, interested only in winning Dáil seats, induce the electors to choose representatives on grounds of party affiliation rather than personal qualities. At the same time, in Ireland, as indeed in other European countries, the parties have lost the role and utility which they originally possessed by representing ideological differences that were substantially present in the electorate. All the parties now claim to hold in varying degrees more or less the same values and to be pursuing more or less the same objectives. Political parties are not mentioned in the Constitution.
Getting rid of them would not require a referendum; it could be done by enacting a law defining Dáil and Seanad as unitary bodies undivided by formal party affiliation. Imagine the parties replaced by the entire adult citizen body acting as a single “party” to elect the Dáil. The Dáil, as hitherto, would elect the taoiseach who would appoint the government. That, combined with devolution of substantial powers and functions to local authorities, would constitute for our democracy a clean break and an invigorating fresh start. – Yours, etc,
Dr DESMOND FENNELL,
Sydney Parade Avenue,
Dublin 4.