SINN FÉIN has proposed that all constituencies in Dáil elections should be seven-seaters but that the total number of constituencies would be reduced from the current 43.
One-third of the Dáil’s membership would be elected on a list system and consideration should also be given to reducing the number of TDs, the party says.
“The key to what we’re proposing here is empowering citizens, actively promoting citizens’ rights and making all of our political structures and systems accountable,” party leader Gerry Adams told journalists outside Government Buildings.
Dublin South Central TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh said: “We believe there is a need for root-and-branch change to many of the institutions in this State.”
The main proposals in a new Sinn Féin document, Towards a New Republic, include an allIreland constitutional forum to be drawn from representatives of both legislatures on the island, civic society, business and trade unions.
The goal would be to create a constitution which would form the basis for a future 32-county republic. “This would be put to the people in referendum.”
Other proposals include:
l Reform and empower local government;
l Reduce the voting age to 16 and extend voting rights in presidential elections to both parts of the island;
l Elect one-third of the Dáil from a list system and the other two-thirds from seven-seat constituencies based on PR-STV. Consideration to be given to reducing the number of TDs in the Dáil;
l Change the law to allow for the impeachment or removal from the Dáil of any TD involved in “corruption, deliberate misuse of public money or fraud”;
l Abolish the Seanad in its current form;
l Cut ministerial salaries by 40 per cent and TDs’ salaries by 20 per cent. Cap wages in the public sector at €100,000;
l Increase the number of days the Dáil sits and introduce family-friendly sitting hours;
l Byelections to be held within 90 days of the vacancy occurring;
l A significant cull of “quangos” and unelected bodies.
Mr Ó Snodaigh said: “PR when it was first set up envisaged constituencies having seven to nine seats to ensure greater representation of people’s views and they never envisaged having three-seat or four-seat constituencies.”
Commenting on the possibility of a single-party Fine Gael government, Mr Adams said: “If you think Fianna Fáil and the Greens were bad, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. I think it’s not good for anybody. The people will have their say and we will accept the outcome of that.”
Asked if Sinn Féin would go into government with Fianna Fáil and Labour to prevent such an eventuality, he replied: “Our position is we would not put Fianna Fáil back into government, we would not put Fine Gael into government, we are an independent party.”
He said the best form of government would be one without Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael but when it was put to him that this was not realistic, Mr Adams responded: “Well, we don’t know that, let the people vote first. Why are we having an election? It isn’t done and dusted.”
He added that, if Fine Gael achieved power on its own “then there is a need for a really strong opposition and Sinn Féin team, and every vote for Sinn Féin will assist the citizens in keeping in check the worst instincts of a conservative government”.
Former TD Seán Crowe, who is running again in the Dublin South-West constituency said: “Most people in this State are sick to their stomach of Fianna Fáil, we want to see the back of Fianna Fáil in government.”