John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish him the best in trying to garner as much support as possible.

I agree with Deputy McGrath with regard to large constituencies. As somebody who, along with the Minister, represents the second largest constituency under the current regime, and which will probably remain the second or third largest after Donegal and Kerry when the new boundaries are introduced, I know there is a big difference between representing urban and rural five-seat constituencies. The distance from the bridge in Waterford to the town of Tullow is significant. It is my honour and privilege to represent the people of Carlow and Kilkenny and I will endeavour to keep it for the foreseeable future.

I echo what Deputy Griffin stated with regard to the number of Deputies. There is a strong argument to be made for further reform of our electoral system and a move towards single seat constituencies with a transferable vote and a further reduction in the number of Deputies. I would not regard this as an erosion of democracy. Deputy McGrath outlined issues relating to parking in his constituency, which should rightfully be performed by local government. The Minister has made very positive steps and I fully support his announcements on reforming local government to give genuinely more power to local elected representatives to influence these decisions. I do not regard the reduction in the number of Deputies as an erosion. I do not believe Oireachtas Members should spend as much time as they do on local government matters, which should be the preserve of members of local authorities. Unfortunately, our local authority system, which has developed since the late 1800, has seen many of the powers of local government vested in the management. The fact the Minister is in the process of giving back some of these powers to elected councillors is to be very much welcomed.

Perhaps in his comments the Minister might refer to some of the earlier remarks by previous speakers who spoke about the need for mayors to be retained in large towns throughout the country. It was my understanding that under the Department's new proposals on local government reform larger towns will keep their mayors. It is important the new municipal areas would have a mayor. The Minister is absolutely correct in his decision to abolish town councils. At present, a number of countries have five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten local authorities and more in some instances. Streamlining the number of local authorities is to be very welcomed. In some local authorities, one requires 50 or 60 votes to be elected and this is not a fair reflection on democracy, particularly when one considers that in parts of Dublin election quotas are 3,000 or 4,000 votes. The Minister's moves to bring a more uniform approach throughout the country in this regard are to be welcomed. I have some reservations about the fact that the terms of reference for the local boundary commission would see some very large electoral areas created in counties throughout the country, with some counties having two or three electoral areas, which would be difficult to cover for councillors who will still be in a part-time role.

I echo the calls and statements of other Deputies on the fact that throughout the country the electoral register is not kept up to date in the manner in which it used to be under the old system. Rate collectors kept electoral registers very much in order and I do not see them kept as efficiently at present. This leads to a situation whereby when elections are held, the turnout in some constituencies is considerably higher than stated because the electoral register is not in order. People who have been dead for many years are still on the electoral registers as are people who have left and moved from one constituency to another. It gives rise to a misleading figure.

With regard to future boundary changes to Dáil constituencies, I urge the Minister to match local authority electoral areas and Dáil constituencies. Deputy McGrath mentioned his Dublin bay north constituency, which sees the crossing of a local authority boundary between the City of Dublin and Fingal. There is a need to try to match these boundaries as much as possible.

I fully agree with the reforms on the vouched system of expenses for Members of the Oireachtas as announced in the budget and these are very much to be welcomed. I have supported a fully vouched system for a long time. The Minister's efforts to include more women in politics are appropriate. Our political system is particularly biased against younger women who have families. The Minister made necessary changes in this regard.

Regarding the activities of the Oireachtas itself, I welcome the fact that included on the A-list for Government legislation this term is a Bill that will give extra investigative powers to Oireachtas committees.

There is a need, from time to time, to allow a freer system of voting in the Oireachtas so that Members would not always be bound by party Whips on issues. In many parliaments around the world, not least at Westminster, a much freer system of allowing parliamentarians to vote currently exists, albeit excluding money Bills and the formation of a government.

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