Madam, – Your Editorial of January 27th, “Electoral boundaries”, touched briefly on parliamentary numbers. That day the Dáil met for the first time since Christmas. It would be interesting to know how many members were present. Judging by the television pictures of the debate on the Roscommon incest case, there were not too many.
In these times of talks and talks about talks, measures to be taken and cuts to be made, has no one the courage to say that half the number of Dáil deputies would suffice? That is the first saving which should be made.
The second would be the complete withdrawal of the salaries of the county councillors and a reversion to the original status when it was an honour to be elected and generous expenses were afforded.
If the proper examples were set there would be little difficulty in persuading the populace to row in. – Yours, etc,