David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are here to discuss the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012. It is an opportunity to look at the entire system and talk about what we do as Deputies. We are sent here by the people as messengers to the Dáil. There has been much discussion about the number of Deputies in the House and the number of people we represent. If one looks at national parliaments in small democracies like Ireland, one finds that we are well represented with roughly 16,000 people per public representative, including the Seanad. The proposal to abolish the Seanad would bring us up to a norm of about 25,000 people per public representative. Our electoral system is unique. I know the Constitutional Convention has been established to look at our electoral system which has a bearing on the number of constituencies and the number of Deputies per constituency.

This House should start looking at different ways of electing Deputies. I am particularly taken with the mixed list system in New Zealand. Deputy Olivia Mitchell spoke earlier about having single seat constituencies with possibly a list system. We should start exploring those possibilities. Even though we talk about the reform of local government, all those who come into this House perform two roles. Many of us end up doing local work which should be the remit of councillors.

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