AN ACADEMIC study of how the public views politicians and the political system has thrown up interesting findings that are likely to inform debate within a constitutional convention when it is finally established by the Government.
Based on an opinion poll that was conducted during the general election campaign, the study found that while voters favoured a smaller Dáil and wanted more women and young people as TDs, they were opposed to changing the electoral system. In addition, they wanted Dáil representatives to concentrate even more on local issues.The dominance of parish pump politics, leading to local demands trumping the national interest, has been almost as damaging to the common good and the economy as the last government’s preferment of builders, bankers and other vested interests. Despite that – perhaps because local councils have such limited power – voters want their TDs to devote more of their time to local, rather than national issues. Outside Dublin, people regard service to the constituency as being of particular importance.
In view of the collapse of Fianna Fáil and the gains made by Fine Gael and Labour in the election, it is hardly a coincidence that voter views tended to reflect party viewpoints. Fianna Fáil favoured the abolition of multiseat constituencies, as did the Green Party. Micheál Martin advocated the German model with first-past-the-post single-seat constituencies and a list system involving proportional representation. Fine Gael and Labour supported a reduced number of TDs and a better gender balance. But they postponed the tricky issue of electoral change for further consideration.
Resistance to change is part of human nature but change is inescapable. The economic collapse caused all political parties to grudgingly accept that reality. In the programme for government, Fine Gael and Labour recognised that “failures of the political system were a key contributor to the financial crisis” and they promised new ways, new approaches and new thinking in their style of government. Appetite for change may, however, have declined. It is six months since Taoiseach Enda Kenny spoke of establishing a constitutional convention to review – among other things – the electoral system. The convention will be asked to report within a year. Any further delay, therefore, will reduce the likelihood of fundamental reforms being undertaken.
The study conducted by Professor Michael Marsh and other political scientists was a valuable exercise that amounted to a snapshot in time. At that stage, Fine Gael and Labour were sitting firmly on the fence in terms of specific reforms.
Should they now promote changes to the multiseat system, based on national interest rather than party political advantage, the electorate would hardly demur. The economic crash broke the banks and the building industry and focused attention on a dysfunctional political system that promoted sectional and local interests at the expense of national wellbeing.
Reform is urgently required.