Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and have listened with interest to the debate. We are living at a time when the status of politicians is not very high. It is popular in the media and elsewhere for the denigration of politicians to be the order of the day but a better system than the democratic one in place has not been devised. It is very easy, therefore, for people to be critical of every move those who put their names forward for election make.

When I was in school and we learned history, I was struck by the actions of the good leaders during the centuries who were referred to as "benevolent despots". They governed with a degree of concern and compassion but for each one of them, there were at least 100 malevolent despots who oppressed the people. The essence of the democratic system is that it is the people who decide, whether it be every four or five years, who will represent and govern them. We should be open to criticism where it is fair, valid and balanced but much of it is not and is designed to sell newspapers or attract listening audiences. There is a void in the system, an absence of a voice to support and defend where criticism is most unjustified. This should be looked at. If we do not value and defend our democracy, others will not do so and the result will not benefit anyone. We have seen examples in the recent past and at present of undemocratic systems under which people suffer horrendously as a consequence. The Bill will be an important component of regulating how our system operates.

Senator Ó Murchú mentioned voting at 16 years of age. I am inclined to think the right to vote is valued and that the current age limit is not in need of revision. One needs to reach a certain age of maturity before one should cast one's vote. It is a privilege and an honour which we should protect.

Senator Ellis has mentioned County Leitrim a number of times. It is almost unconscionable that there is a county which does not have a Dáil representative. The system which allows this to happen must be questioned and the Bill does this. The number of counties, the boundaries of which have not been contravened by commission recommendations, is small. Under the Constitution, there is a criterion which must be met as regards representation on the basis of population. Applying exclusively a mathematical formula to meet this requirement is highly questionable. There are geographical and boundary considerations. We may need to refine some local election boundaries such as in urban areas which are contentious. However, county boundaries should not be contravened. That is my opinion.

A number of Members raised the issue of the multi-seat constituencies. We have a requirement that there should be three, four or five seat constituencies. I listened with interest to what Senator Bradford said. I have long been an advocate of a system of single seat constituencies. I live in a five seat constituency.