Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also thank the commission for this report and I welcome to opportunity to discuss the Bill. Representative politics as we have in this country should enable representation with a diversity of views inherent in a properly functioning democracy.

I welcome the report and the legislation. I acknowledge the commission's independence and the fact that it had the difficult task of working within the parameters set out through the terms of reference. While we will support the Bill, I want to address elements of the parameters within which the commission had to operate. The terms of reference had consequences on its conclusions and by extension on supporters and political representatives alike.

Let me first address the feature of ratios and seats per constituency. One of the daunting tasks of the commission is to ensure that the balance of Deputies to constituents enables an adequate representation given the diversity of views and needs of the constituents concerned. In taking this into account, it must also take due care in so far as possible and feasible to respect existing county, local authority and community boundaries, while also getting the urban and rural balance right. This is no easy task and that is where the terms of reference become an important feature of how the commission can do its work.

In our submission to the Dáil constituency review, Sinn Féin addressed the issue of three-seat constituencies. In particular we pointed out that we should seek to minimise the number of three-seaters. This was for a very good reason that I have mentioned previously - diversity of representation. Constituencies with a larger number of seats are more representative because they afford a greater representation of the political views of constituents. In the 2017 review of local government boundaries, Sinn Féin supported amendments to provide the commission with the option of creating six-seat constituencies. The purpose of this was to avoid the need for three-seat constituencies and ultimately allow them to be phased out. This was to retain and allow for the diversity of representation I mentioned while at the same time reflecting the demographic changes the State is witnessing.

The merit in this is for the benefit of constituents and the ability to provide adequate representation for them. Of course, on a party-political level, there are different views on this, as traditionally larger parties often prefer constituencies to have a smaller number of seats, while independents and smaller parties usually prefer a larger number. The only influence that political parties can have upon this is through the terms of reference which define and confine the options open to the commission when considering its work. Unfortunately, the Government's preference in this regard became obvious through its failure to support the amendments to allow for the creation of six-seat constituencies in the terms of reference. This was reflected through the proliferation of three-seat constituencies such as mine in County Tipperary, which will now have two three-seat constituencies.

It also reduces the potential representation for the different views of constituents, which by extension presents possible deterioration in the equality of representation. Therefore, it would be appropriate for the commission to indicate to the Government any concerns it may have over the restrictiveness of the terms of reference. In future the Government should not tie the hands of the commission to the extent that it cannot consider all feasible and sensible options to ensure that representation works for constituents and not serve the interests of large parties and incumbents.

Sinn Féin in government would consider reintroducing town councils because this would be a perfect example of proper representation. My county lost seven town councils. My local electoral area, LEA, used to have 23 public representatives and now has only seven. How can the Government claim that it can work as well for the public or give the same service? Changes to constituency boundaries are always a matter of some contention and Tipperary has been subject to this previously and again now. I understand the necessity for this but it should only be a last measure where all feasible alternatives have been exhausted.

We have a margin of variance in representation of plus or minus 5%, which is a prudent approach in seeking equality of representation overall. Where this has the likelihood of being exceeded in either direction, boundaries may be breached. This breaching of boundaries is not ideal and I believe all Members would agree that it interrupts the continuity of representation for constituents. While the changes to boundaries that have been announced have been factored to address over-representation, there should be scope in the variances of representation to avoid this where possible. This is a feasible option as given the rapid population growth since the last census, any over-representation would likely be resolved before the next review given that all constituencies are seeing continued population growth. Where a breach of county boundaries is necessary for the delivery of equality of representation, this should be done in a way that ensures that the portion of a county that finds itself in a constituency with a neighbouring county is significant enough in population that the electorate of that area feel that their vote can deliver effective representation for their area in the Dáil.

I again thank the commission for its valuable work and I commend it on the independent approach it takes.

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