Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)

Furthermore, this Bill favours the large parties. How can we say this system is more democratic and equitable than the previous one? How can we expect voters to respect us as politicians when our system disproportionately favours the large parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael? Despite all their fine words on this Bill and the concerns of some about the splitting of the Leitrim constituency, many Deputies will vote for this Bill. In doing so they will ensure that the large parties gain and increase their number of seats relative to their percentage of the vote.

This Bill creates a win-win situation for the large parties but for the electorate, the small parties, and Independent candidates, it is a lose-lose situation. One Government Deputy after another has told us the constituency boundary commission is independent and the Bill is the fairest possible outcome, while they know that is not the case. They can smile in the knowledge that if this Bill is passed, the large parties will gain.

The facts and figures speak for themselves. In all general elections between 1987 and 2002, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the two largest parties with 74% of the vote, won 81% of the seats in three-seat constituencies. Small parties and Independent candidates with almost 34% of the vote gained 25% of the seats in three-seat constituencies. In other words, the two largest parties got 7% more seats than votes in three-seat constituencies and Independent candidates and small parties got 9% fewer seats than votes. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael hold 81% of the seats in three-seat constituencies while in five-seat constituencies they hold 73% of the seats. Small parties and Independent candidates hold 19% of seats in three-seat constituencies while in five-seat constituencies they hold 27% of the seats. These figures reflect the results of all general elections since 1987 and show without any doubt that three-seat constituencies favour the large parties and discriminate against small parties and Independent candidates.

Since 1980 the recommendations from the constituency commission have increased the number of three-seat constituencies by five and decreased the number of five-seat constituencies by three. Since 1980 the number of three-seat constituencies has increased by almost 40% and the number of five-seat constituencies has decreased by 20%. That is a substantial shift which has happened almost by stealth, yet it profoundly affects the outcome of elections. It distorts the system so that members of the large parties gain every time a new three-seat constituency is created, and every time a five-seat constituency is changed to either a three or a four-seat constituency.

The voters in those constituencies do not have the same choice or proportionality as voters in five-seat constituencies. It is all very well for Deputies to say this Bill reflects the changing demographics of our society. It does, but the Bill must also ensure that our system is fair and that each voter has an equal opportunity to elect the candidates of his or her choice. That is not the case. This disenfranchises certain voters. The icing on the cake for the large parties is that it favours their candidates. Why should they complain?

The terms of reference of the constituency boundary commission should be changed for two reasons: to ensure the fairness and proportionality of this system and to maintain the integrity of county boundaries to ensure that counties such as Leitrim have a representative in the Dáil.

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