Single seat constituencies?

[antagoniser]

Does anyone else think there should be a return to single seat constituencies?

If this happened we might belatedly see a realignment in Irish politics, and an end to the tedium of consensus politics we have endured and lamented for the past 15 years! At last we might see decisive government, and an end to parties of limited electoral appeal having a disproportionate influence on the running of the country.

I accept that this would be more advantageous to the larger political parties, and Fianna Fail in particular (in the short term at least). I would however propose that this process would also include giving more power to local authorities to deal with local issues, where smaller parties and independents can have their say.

This is basically the British system, and it works. Only then will we see real political discourse once more, and an end to parish pump politics at a national level.

Its the current system that has created the rush to the centre that is so maligned by numerous posters on this site.

[doheochai]

Does anyone else think there should be a return to single seat constituencies?

If this happened we might belatedly see a realignment in Irish politics, and an end to the tedium of consensus politics we have endured and lamented for the past 15 years! At last we might see decisive government, and an end to parties of limited electoral appeal having a disproportionate influence on the running of the country.

I accept that this would be more advantageous to the larger political parties, and Fianna Fail in particular (in the short term at least). I would however propose that this process would also include giving more power to local authorities to deal with local issues, where smaller parties and independents can have their say.

This is basically the British system, and it works. Only then will we see real political discourse once more, and an end to parish pump politics at a national level.

Its the current system that has created the rush to the centre that is so maligned by numerous posters on this site.

Much as you might think they are different, the tories, new labour and the Lib Dems are pretty much all the same, just as FF, FG and Lab in Ireland

[Jim84]

One seat constituency with a PR system would be interesting.

Despite FF attempts in the past to bring back 1st past the post system the electorate are content in the system we have now.

Besides I don't think it'd lead to more decisive politics.

[antagoniser]

Does anyone else think there should be a return to single seat constituencies?

If this happened we might belatedly see a realignment in Irish politics, and an end to the tedium of consensus politics we have endured and lamented for the past 15 years! At last we might see decisive government, and an end to parties of limited electoral appeal having a disproportionate influence on the running of the country.

I accept that this would be more advantageous to the larger political parties, and Fianna Fail in particular (in the short term at least). I would however propose that this process would also include giving more power to local authorities to deal with local issues, where smaller parties and independents can have their say.

This is basically the British system, and it works. Only then will we see real political discourse once more, and an end to parish pump politics at a national level.

Its the current system that has created the rush to the centre that is so maligned by numerous posters on this site.

Much as you might think they are different, the tories, new labour and the Lib Dems are pretty much all the same, just as FF, FG and Lab in Ireland

There are much more readily identifiable differences between the two main parties, the Conservatives and Labour, than there are between FF and FG. The system forces the electorate make a clear choice when two different ideologies present themselves, and allows for decisive government thereafter.

[rockofcashel]

No, I don't think so. In fact, why don't we move back to the system we had, which had 7-9 seat constituencies, so that proper proportional representation can come out of the Irish electorates decisions.

Get rid of local county councils though, and create regional super-councils based on the Euro constituencies, where the localised stuff can be dealt with, leaving the legislative work to the Dail and Dail only.

Pay the super-councillors (perhaps 60 per region), the same wages as the TD's.

[Rocky]

Does anyone else think there should be a return to single seat constituencies?

If this happened we might belatedly see a realignment in Irish politics, and an end to the tedium of consensus politics we have endured and lamented for the past 15 years! At last we might see decisive government, and an end to parties of limited electoral appeal having a disproportionate influence on the running of the country.

I accept that this would be more advantageous to the larger political parties, and Fianna Fail in particular (in the short term at least). I would however propose that this process would also include giving more power to local authorities to deal with local issues, where smaller parties and independents can have their say.

This is basically the British system, and it works. Only then will we see real political discourse once more, and an end to parish pump politics at a national level.

Its the current system that has created the rush to the centre that is so maligned by numerous posters on this site.

Much as you might think they are different, the tories, new labour and the Lib Dems are pretty much all the same, just as FF, FG and Lab in Ireland

There are much more readily identifiable differences between the two main parties, the Conservatives and Labour, than there are between FF and FG. The system forces the electorate make a clear choice when two different ideologies present themselves, and allows for decisive government thereafter.

What are they? I'd nearly say that Labour and the Conservatives are more similar to each other then FF and FG. It's the general nature of all Western Democracies, as people get richer there is a race to the centre of the major parties, with the creation of a few small niche parties in response. It's the same all across Europe for example Germany, France and the Netherlands. The election system wouldn’t change that and it’s hard to know what effect it would have.

[drjimryan]

Single seat, first past the post.......Just perfect for the machines in storage..........the exact type of polling they are designed for....

[DOD]

One seat constituencies would be madness, they just would not work. Far too much of a headache trying to redraw boundaries.

[rockofcashel]

Does anyone else think there should be a return to single seat constituencies?

If this happened we might belatedly see a realignment in Irish politics, and an end to the tedium of consensus politics we have endured and lamented for the past 15 years! At last we might see decisive government, and an end to parties of limited electoral appeal having a disproportionate influence on the running of the country.

I accept that this would be more advantageous to the larger political parties, and Fianna Fail in particular (in the short term at least). I would however propose that this process would also include giving more power to local authorities to deal with local issues, where smaller parties and independents can have their say.

This is basically the British system, and it works. Only then will we see real political discourse once more, and an end to parish pump politics at a national level.

Its the current system that has created the rush to the centre that is so maligned by numerous posters on this site.

Much as you might think they are different, the tories, new labour and the Lib Dems are pretty much all the same, just as FF, FG and Lab in Ireland

There are much more readily identifiable differences between the two main parties, the Conservatives and Labour, than there are between FF and FG. The system forces the electorate make a clear choice when two different ideologies present themselves, and allows for decisive government thereafter.

What are they? I'd nearly say that Labour and the Conservatives are more similar to each other then FF and FG. It's the general nature of all Western Democracies, as people get richer there is a race to the centre of the major parties, with the creation of a few small niche parties in response. It's the same all across Europe for example Germany, France and the Netherlands. The election system wouldn’t change that and it’s hard to know what effect it would have.

Just for the craic Rocky, would you ever write down 10 differences between FF and FG.

[Trefor]

There are much more readily identifiable differences between the two main parties, the Conservatives and Labour, than there are between FF and FG.

Like what?