Irish Examiner view: Hard sell

With a new Electoral Commission now in place, to report to Government with its reform plans, the pressure is on to decide how many TDs there should be in light of new census data from the CSO.

It may be that the Constitution demands a certain level of representation in Dáil Éireann per size of population and that legal requirement may lead to 18-20 additional TDs. 

Much as such a scenario might suit the Government parties as it fights to stave off the seemingly inexorable rise of Sinn Féin, it is not something which will curry favour among families fighting to put food in front of their children, heat them, and clothe them.