Constitution and the Dáil

Madam, - Jim Duffy tells us, in his article "Safety in Numbers for TDs" (Opinion & Analysis, July 28th): "Article 16.2

Madam, - Jim Duffy tells us, in his article "Safety in Numbers for TDs" (Opinion & Analysis, July 28th): "Article 16.2.2 states the Dáil as a unit must not have more than one TD per 30,000 voters".

The Constitution states no such thing. What it actually stipulates is that "the total number of members of Dáil Éireann shall not be fixed at less than one member for each thirty thousand of the population". Surely a political scientist, more than most, should appreciate that a Constitution which asserts that "the State recognises the Family as the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society" is entirely consistent in regarding a TD as representing all of the family and not merely voters? - Yours, etc,

MAURICE A O'SULLIVAN, Ashton Wood, Bray, Co Wicklow.