Constitutional Referendum on the Number of Members of Dáil Éireann: Motion
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-25
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Gerard P. Craughwell (IND), Labour Panel

He is welcome to the House. He might ask why the system of determining the number of Dáil Deputies must be amended. Ireland’s democratic institutions have always evolved when the needs of the State demanded them to do so. Today, we face one of those moments. The constitutional formula that determines the number of Dáil Deputies, that is, one TD for every 20,000 to 30,000 people, was designed for an Ireland that no longer exists. Yet, it continues to shape the size of our national Parliament in ways that are increasingly misaligned with the realities of modern governance.
As policymakers, we know that systems and structures matter. When a system produces outcomes that are automatic rather than intentional, it is our responsibility to intervene. Currently, population growth alone dictates the expansion of the Dáil. There is no evidence, institutional need or strategic planning involved. Rather, it is simple arithmetic. If left unchanged, the formula will continue to increase the number of TDs every time the population rises, even if the additional seats do not improve representation, strengthen accountability or enhance legislative performance.
This is not a question of ideology; it is a question of institutional design. A continually expanding Dáil carries operational consequences. More Members means more committees, administrative overhead, co-ordination challenges and pressure on parliamentary time. It risks slowing decision-making at a moment when the State must be more, rather than less, agile. It also risks weakening accountability by making the system more diffuse and harder for citizens to navigate.
Other advanced democracies have already addressed this issue. They set the size of their legislature based on functionality, not a fixed population ratio. They recognised that representation is not simply about numbers, but effectiveness. Amending our system would allow Ireland to do the same. It would give the Oireachtas or an independent commission the authority to determine the appropriate size of the Dáil based on evidence, comparative research and the needs of a modern State. It would allow us to design a Chamber that is sustainable, efficient and capable of meeting the demand placed on it. Crucially, reform does not mean reducing representation. It means protecting representation by ensuring that the Dáil remains a body that can function effectively, scrutinise Government rigorously and legislate with clarity of purpose. If we want a Parliament fit for the next 50 years, not just the next census, we must be willing to modernise the rules that govern it.
The current formula has served us well historically, but it is no longer the right tool for Ireland today. By amending it, we can ensure the size of the Dáil is a deliberate choice, grounded in evidence and guided by needs of the public. This is not just good governance; it is responsible stewardship of our democratic institutions.
I ask the Minister of State to take this to the Government. I urge the Government to take courage in its hands and, under the provisions of Article 46.2 of the Constitution, bring forward the legislation, as my colleague Senator McDowell said, to amend Article 16.2.2°, setting out a new method for determining the number of Dáil Deputies that will serve the country for the next 50 years. I can understand how political parties might find this a little difficult to live with, but it is about making the Oireachtas a functioning organisation. As I pointed out, there are many good reasons for it. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-25/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:46+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-25