Politics
Analysis: Why an increase in Dáil size is now constitutionally necessary
Allowing Dáil numbers to grow, at least for the time being, will produce more proportional electoral outcomes and provide for greater choice in selecting ministers
The size of Dáil Éireann is set by the constitution, which prescribes that the ratio of people to TDs must lie within the range of 20,000 to 30,000 people per TD. This rule served us well in the first 50 years of the state, which were characterised by relatively stable population numbers.
Throughout this period, the size of the Dáil tracked closely the upper end of the constitutional ratio. It also tracked closely what would ...
