Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 3, to delete lines 23 to 28.

This amendment is intended to delete the provision in the Bill that allows for the number of Deputies to be reduced to as few as 153. It would not be correct for the number of Oireachtas Members to be reduced without a corresponding enhancement of local authority powers. This is a fundamental issue and the provision is, therefore, unacceptable.

The constitutionality of the Bill is still in question. Reducing the number of Deputies will not make the Dáil more representative or enable people to participate more effectively in democracy on this island. It will not provide for the involvement of more people from low-income or rural backgrounds, who are voiceless in political debates and depend on us to represent them. The provision is all about being seen. The image is of something occurring, but not much is happening other than a reduction in the number of Deputies.

Reducing the number of Deputies raises considerable issues, given that a further population increase between now and the next census is likely. The minimum requirement is one Deputy per 30,000 head of population. On Committee Stage, the Minister stated he did not expect there to be a further increase in population during the next two or three years. The maternity ward in Portlaoise is literally bursting at the seams. I do not know what it is like in the rest of the country-----

See this speech in context