A PD/Fianna Fail pre election pact was advocated by Mr Timmy Conway, a Kildare councillor and former senator.
He said the electorate was sophisticated and had to be given a clear choice between the Government and an alternative.
"If the PDs and Fianna Fail said that they were the alternative, I believe that people would go for it." Mr Conway, speaking on "politics for the 21st century", recalled it was a pact between Labour and Fine Gael which had put an end to 16 consecutive years of Fianna Fail government in 1973.
"They put together a 14 point plan, which indicated their priorities, and, arranged for a vote transfer.
The chairman of Young PDs, Mr Jason O'Mahony, suggested the Taoiseach be elected directly by the people. "Why not limit the Taoiseach to one six year term? Six years to make their mark and do something rather than hanging on for years and years and achieving nothing.
He said the number of TDs should be cut to 120 and Dail membership limited to 12 years. "It will turn TDs into professional legislators ... And it will be a damned sight better than the current dosshouse we call a parliament."
