Shaking up the Dáil

Harris calls for national debate on TD numbers

Minister for Higher Education questioned whether increasing the number of politicians “ad nauseam” was appropriate

Simon Harris, Minister for Higher Education: “I certainly wouldn’t be buying into the populist narrative of reducing the number of politicians for the sake of it, I’m more talking about a climate about where the number is increasing, what is the appropriate level, where does the increase stop?”. Picture: Norma Burke/ © RollingNews.ie

Politicians have a “duty” to discuss what the correct number of TDs elected to the Dáil is and whether the figure should continue to rise as the population grows, Simon Harris has said.

Speaking to reporters at Government Buildings in Dublin, the Minister for Higher Education questioned whether increasing the number of politicians “ad nauseam” was appropriate.

“I certainly wouldn’t be buying into the populist narrative of reducing the number of politicians for the sake ...