asked the Minister for Local Government whether his attention has been drawn to anomalies in representation in the present Dáil, whereby the number of electors for each Dáil Deputy has not been maintained in accordance with constitutional provisions; if he is aware of the possibility of a private citizen contesting the validity of present Dáil representation in the courts; and whether he proposes to recommend any course of action to remedy this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dáil Representation.
18.
As I indicated in reply to Question No. 55 on the 18th October, 1967, a decision on the revision of constituencies has not been made. With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question, I am advised that the validity of the present Dáil representation is not open to challenge since the Constitution expressly provides that any alteration in the constituencies shall not take effect during the life of the Dáil sitting when such revision is made.
The Minister himself commented on this problem at the gathering of a political Party recently. Is it the intention at the moment to have the position revised before the next general election?
I did not comment on the matter raised in the question.
The Minister did comment on the system of election in this country. He is against it. Yet the last proposal to revise the system was defeated decisively only eight years ago.
Decisively? Thirty thousand votes?
This question does not deal with the system of election.
Representation in the present Dáil. Would the Minister ensure that in any revision of the constituencies the body revising such constituencies would be at all costs impartial so that the Government could avoid the charge of gerrymandering constituencies? Gerrymandering has been the experience of our fellow-countrymen in the north. In any committee for the revision of the constituencies I would hope the Government would not leave themselves open to the complaint of gerrymandering the constituencies for their own Party gain.
The Government cannot avoid the type of charge made by the Opposition.
The Government could avoid it provided an impartial committee is set up.