Sir, – Ciaran O'Mara's letter of April 15th is very interesting. European statistics on population and numbers of politicians elected (2015) reveal that we are massively over-represented in the Dáil and Seanad Éireann. The total number of seats in parliaments around Europe (bicameral included) per one million population reveals the following: Republic of Ireland – 49; Sweden – 36 ; Norway – 33 ; Denmark – 32 ; UK – 23; Italy – 16; Poland – 15; France – 14; Spain – 13 ; Germany – 8.
Most people are totally unaware that we elect a TD for every 20,000 to 30,000 of population.
In the UK, they currently elect an MP for every 80,000.
I suggest that our Government immediately revisit its decision to increase the number of seats in the next Dáil.
A change to our Constitution on population numbers per TD is urgently needed. – Yours, etc,
FRANK WALSH,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.