A Chara, - A couple of recent writers to these pages have called for the number of TDs to be reduced and argued that the Dáil is overpopulated.
For the workload that they have to carry, we probably have too few TDs. Almost all of them are overworked and put in long hours, often sacrificing family and other careers.
The real issue is the type of work that they have to do. If they were functioning purely as legislators, as other countries' parliamentarians do, there might be an argument for reducing their number.
In Ireland, however, TDs are expected to act as legislator, advocate, social worker, mediator and form-filler and spend most of their time doing work that should properly be the remit of local authorities.
The solution is that in general elections we vote for people who can contribute to national debate and legislation (and perhaps even change the electoral system to ensure this); we properly reform local government (and that includes the introduction of a fair system of local taxation to fund it); and we educate people in how to obtain their rights and entitlements.. - Is mise,
Cllr MALCOLM BYRNE, The Chase, Gorey, Co Wexford.