Madam, - I share the concern about the serious risk of election fraud in the next general election. The fact that the register is overstated by about 30 per cent is a serious threat to democracy and urgent action is needed.
However, there is also another threat to democracy in the creation of 18 three-seat constituencies. In my own area they removed 10,300 voters from Dublin North Central and created a three-seater. One Minister was given back Drumcondra and Whitehall. Why are all the three seat constituencies on the Northside of Dublin and the five seaters on the Southside? They could just as easily created a four-seater and a five-seater.
All the major political parties in the Dáil are supporting this flawed piece of legislation. They are claiming that this was done independently. However, they forget to tell our citizens that Minister Cullen gave them their terms of reference and set them up. We have an expanding population yet the same number of TDs. The three largest parties have united to squeeze out Independent voices and the smaller parties. This will not work as our citizens see through all of their actions.
We all have to be vigilant on the potential for electoral fraud. Such fraud is a direct attack on democracy and we all have a duty to speak out on this important issue. - Yours, etc,
FINIAN McGRATH TD, (Independent), Dublin North Central, Dáil Éireann, Dublin 2.