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AN INCREASE IN the population of Ireland could lead to a redrawing of constituency boundaries in the next general election.
The Government gave the green light to legislation yesterday evening which allows for a cut in the number of TDs. The Irish Examiner and Newstalk are suggesting that the number of TDs will be reduced by around 20 under the Electoral Amendment Bill. There are currently 166 elected TDs.
A Boundary Commission is to be set up to redraw the boundaries of the current constituencies. A political geographer on RTE Radio1′s Morning Ireland suggested that Dublin might see its number of TDs cut by seven seats and Cork might lose three seats. Donegal could be looking at becoming a single constituency.
The Central Statistics Office is due to release preliminary results today from this year’s nationwide Census. These are expected to show a population increase in Ireland of around 220,000, according to RTE. The geographical distribution of this increase will also help determine the refocusing of constituency boundaries.
Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan announced in May that the Government would reduce the number of TDs in the next Dail – but didn’t specify by how many.
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All expenses should be vouched…..
100 TD’s would be enough with no expences
I think it’s illogical to say no expenses. A lot of them have genuine travel and accommodation costs. But this area like others has to be more strictly monitored – as events in Dail over last few days testify.
John we all have expenses and have to take that from our wages.my husband travels 30 odd miles to work five days a week and the same back (he is so lucky to still have a job i know) and during the snow had to stay in a relations house because he couldnt get home. he doesnt get any extra for these expenses and his wages are nowhere near what td s get.jesus if he was earning even half what td s get we would be on the pigs back
@ Mary . I hate to sound like I’m standing up for TDs but in fairness some expenses are required , eg a TD from West Cork or Donegal who stays 3/4 nights a week in Dublin. However TDs are certainly overpaid and if generous expenses are provided a pay reduction of 30 – 40% is reasonable.
well john let them pay for it out of their wages.i am sure a lot of them have family in dublin they could stay with.if not whats wrong with a b and b.whats good for the goose is good for the gander.i can understand where you are coming from thats why i gave you the green mark but just cant understand why they cant manage on their salaries and need expences.
Constitution should be changed to allow 100 TDs regardless of the population.
They should let voters decide how many less TDs they want by putting a ‘none of the above’ option on ballot papers. If there’s enough for a quota then one less seat for that constituency.
Too little too late!
COULD be 20. Probably be a lot less. They know when they’re on to a good thing !
It would be a bigger gesture to bring TD’s / minister’s salaries down to average industrial wage.
The constitution states that there must be a TD for every 20000-30000 of the population. Reducing the number of TDs will push close to the 30000 limit. We’d have to run a referendum to go to say 100 TDs.
Initial estimates were to reduce the Dáil by 20. I think they might have to settle for about 16. That’d bring us down to a nice round 150 TDs.
Has anyone else noticed the huge change in Phil Hogan since the govt came to office? Before the election he was breathing fire and was a seething cauldron of rage at times . Now he is timid and almost apologetic in his demeanour. I know this has happened with others, but to a much lesser extent I think.
have your say