Meet the grumpy middle - the voters who will decide the next general election

Next week, the Dáil returns from its summer break, and preparations for the general election will move up a gear. TDs will still be required to be present for Dáil votes, but for most of them, Dáil attendance will become even more of an occasional distraction from the real business of running for re-election.

Some people decry this, but it’s a necessary part of our parliamentary system. Democracy requires people to be interested ...