Getting figures wrong on TD numbers

Further to the correspondence from Emmet Murphy (May 28) and myself (Jun 1), I now believe that I was incorrect in agreeing with his proposal that the number of TDs should be reduced to 38.

I based my contention on a comparison of the number of our TDs with those in large countries. If I had looked at the situation in smaller EU member states, it would have become apparent that the ratio of members per million population in them is virtually the same as in Ireland — namely around 30 per million.

I suggest that every country needs a basic number of members in order to carry out parliamentary functions. Small countries manage this with some 100-200 members. Larger countries have around 600 members; much more than this would be unwieldy.