The Labour Party has formally rejected any moves to change the system of electing TDs by proportional representation in multi-seat constituencies.
The Labour Party spokesman on the Environment, Mr Eamonn Gilmore, outlined his party's position at a private meeting this week of the All Party Committee on the Constitution.
The Government has asked the committee to examine the electoral system so as to "enable TDs to more effectively fulfil their role as legislators". The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, has called for the introduction of a single-seat PR system that would incorporate a list-type scheme. Mr Gilmore rejected such a system which, he said, "would transfer to political parties the power currently exercised by the people". The backbench Fianna Fail TD, Mr Sean Fleming, also made a written submission to yesterday's committee meeting.
He described the list system as "intrinsically undemocratic and designed to eliminate the people's right to elect or not to elect specific individual to the national parliament". The All Party Committee has already met in private with the former Taoiseach, Dr Garret Fitzgerald, and the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, to discuss the desirability of changing the system of electing TDs by proportional representation in multi-seat constituencies.
Mr Dempsey and the Progressive Democrats have been the leading advocates for changing the electoral system - a move that would require a referendum.