Bigger constituencies for a better choice

IN the coming months the constituency commission will be redrawing boundaries to accommodate the changes in population reflected in the 2006 census.

Some accused the commission last time of favouring three-seat constituencies which are well recognised as being less democratic and proportional than larger constituencies.

However, the commission is restricted by the Electoral Act to creating constituencies with only three, four or five seats. Some counties like Donegal, Kerry, Meath and Tipperary were entitled to six seats on the basis of population, but these had to be split into two three-seat constituencies.

Similarly, Leitrim was shared between Sligo and Roscommon when the three counties together could have stayed as a single six-seat constituency.

Dublin has nine three- and four-seat constituencies, but because of its higher population density, smaller geographical area and diverse political opinion, it would be better to have fewer but larger constituencies.

Clearly the solution is to allow larger constituencies. The more seats in a constituency, the more proportional and representative the result would be. Perhaps the next Dáil could change the Electoral Act to allow the commission create larger constituencies where appropriate.

Jason Fitzharris

Rivervalley

Swords

Co Dublin