Mahon Tribunal TD calls constituency changes ‘butchery’

Earlier today the Constituency Commission fairly predictably backed cutting the number of TDs by 8. Also rather predictably TDs weren't too happy, with one even calling it a act of butchery.

So which one stuck their head high above the parapet to criticise the common sense recommendations? Only one that was left in a precarious moral position by the Mahon Tribunal earlier this year.

Yes, Olivia Mitchell - identified in the Tribunal's final report as a member of the 'two by four' club, which met in swanky Dublin restaurants to discuss getting land rezoned for a shopping centre.

The Dublin South TD showed no signs of being connected with the people today as she told reporters that the proposed changes are: "butchering certainly, and it's going to be a challenge for sitting TDs I think". Well pity about them. Surely their handsome salary, expenses and pensions will help them get by.

Most have welcomed the recommendations which actually came about because of a Government pre-election promise. So it does in fact have popular support.

However, Mitchell is currently a TD for Dublin South, a constituency set to lose two seats if the recommendations are implemented. So she's obviously not going to be a great fan of it. Then again she's luck to still be a member of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, so she probably shouldn't grumble too loudly.

She says: "It's always harder to get elected in a three-seater because of course you need to get a quarter of the vote as opposed to a sixth to get a quota... So it's definitely going to be a challenge".

The report also urges sweeping changes to most counties. Several will be unified as a single electoral area by the time the next general election rolls around. Presumably much to the disappointment of Sinn Féin, Donegal will be made into one five-seater. Tipperary and Kerry will also get the same treatment.

Leitrim's reunification may not be as large scale as that of East and West Germany but it'll be welcome by the county men nonetheless. The whole county will be paired with Sligo and bits of Cavan and Donegal to form a four seat constituency.

Laois-Offaly will also be no more. Having been paired together since they were Queens County and Kings County their separation if one of the most noteworthy. Each will now constitute a separate three-seater.