Spokesperson on Environment, Community and Local Government and Limerick TD Niall Collins has responded to the announcement from Minister Phil Hogan TD regarding changes to the terms of reference of the Constituency Commission which will result in the reduction in the number of TDs and other changes in the political system.
 
Deputy Collins said: “We’re all agreed that the work of the Oireachtas needs to be reformed.  However, we’re concerned that this Government is more focussed on headline grabbing gimmicks than on genuinely changing the way the Oireachtas does its business.”
 
Simply abolishing the Seanad and reducing the number of TDs will do nothing to reform the way we do politics in this country, except:
 
1. concentrate power in the hands of even fewer individuals
2. increase further the distance between the people and their Government
3. raise further the bar for involvement for new people to get involved in politics
 
“During the election campaign we put forward genuinely innovative ideas on political reform which would have the effect of changing politics in this country, increasing the accountability of the Government to the Dáil and bringing in a new wave of professional experience and perspective.
 
Deputy Collins concluded: “Despite the rhetoric, this new Government has shown no evidence of wanting to engage in proper discussion or real reform.  Once again, we’re seeing the chase for headlines be prioritised at the expense of substantive change.”