The Minister for the Environment Mr Dempsey has again called for the ending of the "dual mandate" which allows the holding of local Council and Dáil seat simultaneously.
Speaking at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis this morning Mr Dempsey called for "clear water" between national and local government.
Mr Dempsey's earlier plan to end the "dual mandate" was overturned by the Government, after outrage amongst deputies. One hundred and thirteen TD's are also county councillors.
Ending the "dual mandate" could strengthen local government, Mr Dempsey said, adding: "I believe we need a re-focused Dáil and that to achieve this we need to put clear water between national government and local government.
"To say that there has not been a great appetite for change among the political establishment would be putting it very mildly indeed. The big question is why? Why are we content to be suppressed - suppressed by the dreaded status quo?
He added: "If only I had a penny for every time I've been asked 'If it ain't broke, why fix it?'. But the system is broken and the reality is that it has been broken for a long time."
Mr Dempsey also said officials will launch a major drive to stamp out general election fraud and irregular voting practices in the next general election.
There would be "heightened vigilance" among officials when the nation went to the polls sometime before next summer, he said.
The initiative would build on current safeguards against personation - pretending to be someone else so as to be able to vote more than once, and possibly many times - he told the ard-fheis, in Dublin's Citywest Hotel.
"The casting of votes at elections is the bedrock on which our democracy is built. Personation is nothing other than a direct attack on that democratic system." he said.
"Fortunately, personation has not been a common feature at elections in this country in the past. But that provides no guarantees that it could not emerge as a factor in the future," he said.
"I am conscious of the need for heightened vigilance among electoral officials at next year's elections. But it cannot stop there.
"We, as a party, will also have to play our part. We must mount an extra special election day effort to be alert to the possibility of irregular voting practices."
Delegates later passed motions calling for greater measures to prevent personation at polling stations and to ensure that fraudulent entries did not get on to the electoral register.
They also backed calls for the role of local government representatives to be strengthened and for Mr Dempsey to continue his campaign to change the electoral system.
Additional reporting PA
