Sir, – The Government has decided to stick with the present constitutional limit of one TD per 30,000 population (News, April 14th). This is going to result in the number of TDs possibly increasing by 10 per cent after the next election. The census is likely to show our country's population at a figure around 5.25 million. The CSO may estimate a lower population every year but it is the census number that counts under the Constitution. There is another option: amend the Constitution to fix the size of the Dáil at 160. Similar-sized democracies such as New Zealand and Israel make do with 120 deputies. The Netherlands with 17 million has 150 seats in the lower chamber. Why would we wish to leave our Dáil expand every five years? The present chamber in Leinster House is not suitable for the envisaged numbers and there is also the question of value for money with all the extra costs attached to every TD and their entourage. Surely 160 TDs are enough to represent the people?
Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas and I can understand why politicians of all hues would not wish to rock this boat but what about the wider public interest? Should we not at least have a debate about the most desirable size of the Dáil? – Yours, etc,
CIARAN O’MARA,
Booterstown,
Co Dublin.