Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Section 2 provides that the number of Members of Dáil Éireann will be 158 on the next dissolution of the Dáil following the enactment of this Bill. I seek clarification from the Minister, Deputy Hogan, on this. Fine Gael committed prior to the last general election to reducing the number of Deputies by 20. In a previous debate in this House, the Minister stated the reason for the reduction from 166 to 158 was that a constitutional amendment would be required if a reduction of 20 were to be facilitated. The Government has made it quite clear that it is willing to hold a number of referenda and it has already done so. It has no difficulty in proposing to hold a referendum on whether this House should remain in existence without referring the matter to the Constitutional Convention for debate. Why is the Government not prepared to put an amendment before the people to reduce the number of Deputies by 20, as committed to by the Minister prior to the last general election, aided and abetted by the Labour Party in its electoral manifesto?