Time to decide what we don’t need

MAYBE it’s time to draw up a new constitution and sort out just how many TDs and senators we need. Do we need a new president and, more to the point, can we afford the office?

The Taoiseach has already shown we don’t need 166 TDs by refusing to hold three long overdue by-elections. It’s also time to stop paying people for turning up to work; unvouched expenses should be out of the question and vouched ones should be for a fixed amount. The rules for those elected to the Oireachtas should be the same as for the gardaí, army or navy – any misdemeanour and they’re out.

Jack O’Loughlin