A NEW electoral Commission was promised in the programme for government to take responsibility for updating the electoral registers, to decide on electronic voting, to oversee party funding and elections and to absorb the responsibilities of the Standards in Public Office Commission. The Green Party was particularly keen. And now Minister for the Environment John Gormley has commissioned a report that could radically change the way in which constituencies are managed.
Political scientists at UCD have suggested that, rather than alter Dáil constituency boundaries in the aftermath of every census to reflect population changes, the boundaries themselves should remain fixed, with only the number of TDs changing. It would pose a risk to some Dáil members. And the idea is unlikely to recommend itself to Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael. These parties tend to win a disproportionate number of seats in three-seater constituencies, while smaller parties and Independents do better in four and five-seaters. If a fixed boundary system was adopted, larger constituencies would tend to emerge.
The idea should, however, be given a proper hearing. Our electoral system requires reform. When introduced in 1920, it provided for 120 parliamentary members and constituencies with up to eight elected representatives. Now it has 166 members. And the largest constituencies are five-seaters. There has been a significant increase in population, but not large enough to justify the extra TDs. Reform in the present economic climate should involve a review of Dáil numbers. Irish representation in the European Parliament has fallen by 20 per cent in the past decade. Should the Dáil be treated differently?
Mr Gormley will initiate a consultation process on constituency boundaries and other aspects of reform. But any changes will not impact on the local and European Parliament elections to be held in June. There is, however, a growing urgency to appoint an electoral commission with responsibility for the compilation of accurate voting registers. The scandal that developed before the last general election, when local authorities failed in their duties to compile accurate electoral registers, should not be repeated.
The Dáil returns today after its Christmas holidays. That lengthy hiatus reflects a crude imbalance of power between the Executive and Parliament. It erodes public confidence in the democratic system.