Dr. Fiona Buckley:

If we have 11 extra Teachta Dalaí, we are probably looking at five-seat constituencies being increased to six-seat constituencies but there is an argument that they be split into two three-seat constituencies. As far as I am aware, and I will point to the constitutional expert on this, while a minimum district magnitude level of three is mentioned in the Constitution, I do not think we have a higher upper limit. Back in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, it would have been regular to have had constituency sizes of more than five, six, seven or eight seats. It is only since the late 1940s, and certainly since the 1980s, that the commission reviewing constituencies directed a maximum of five seats.

As far as I am aware, we have the space within the Constitution to go further. Certainly, the research on electoral systems and women's representation tells us that a proportional representation-based electoral system with a district magnitude of at least seven is probably the most conducive form of electoral system. Then, obviously, the electoral system will change. According to the research, the ideal electoral system is a district magnitude of seven and a proportional representation list system. However, we have the proportional representation-single transferable vote, PR-STV, system here. It is a matter of having gender quotas within that proportional representation list system but with placement mandates built into it.