Dublin North East Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Larry O'Toole calls for Democracy on the ground

Published: 1 November, 2005

Larry O'Toole calls for more Democracy

Councillor Larry O'Toole has expressed concern at the increasing tendency of this Government towards reducing constituency sizes from primarily four and five seats to only three. This has the effect of reducing voter's choices at the ballot boxes, as it makes it harder for smaller parties to have candidates elected. Instead the establishment parties have a greater chance of success, thereby precluding proper choice and representation.

Speaking today Larry called on the Government to reject the latest Constituency Commission report saying if implemented it would dilute the proportionality of our electoral system. "For the third consecutive commission, the number of five-seat constituencies, has been cut, while the number of three-seat constituencies grows steadily.Dothe people of Coolock/Donaghmede/Kilbarrack in 3 seat Dublin North-East have the same opportunity for putting their chosen party or representative into Leinster House as the people in leafy Dundrum in 5 seat Dublin South?"

Indeed one could ask is it merely a coincidence that there is a proliferation of 3 seat constituencies north of the Liffey whereas larger constituencies are more common south of the Liffey? Is the legislation restricting constituency size to three, four and five seaters a deliberate attempt by the establishment to keep the marginalised out?

"Though I expect the Government to dismiss concerns being raised by referringto the independent nature of the Commission, this is not good enough.The essential problem is that the Commission is constrained by legislativeact to have constituency sizes between three and five seats. The proportionality possible under the PRSTV system in place in this State has been diluted substantially through the selective redrawing of constituency boundaries and the reduction in constituency size in terms of members elected from nine and seven seat constituencies of the 1920's when the system was instigated to today's five, four and three seaters.

"Proportional Representation with a Single Transferable Vote (PRSTV) using multi seat constituencies is a unique system and practiced hardly at all outside of Ireland. It was not designed with the intention of applying it to three seat constituencies. The number of members returned per constituency is a crucial component of the Irish electoral system. The higher the number of members returned per constituency the greater the proportionality of the system"