Getting it right

I agree with Jim Mack’s sentiment (Jul 9) that there should be fewer TDs, but I believe his proposed 80-100 is too low.

He bases his proposal on the system in Britain, which, like other countries with large populations, has around ten members of parliament per million. A more appropriate comparison is with populations comparable with ours, such as Finland, Denmark and Belgium, which need 30 or so members per million to fulfil all the functions of a parliament.

On this basis Ireland should have about 135 TDs, which, incidentally, is the number one would infer from the opening to Mr Mack’s letter, where he calls for a reduction of 30 members.