A Fine Gael TD wants the Dáil overhauled so that each constituency only has one TD.

Kerry TD Brendan Griffin has officially tabled a bill to hold a referendum so that the Dáil would only have one TD per constituency. The bill would reduce the Dáil to 158 members.

Mr Griffin says the country would be run better if TDs weren't always looking over their shoulders at what their colleagues are doing

“When you can have a situation where there is only one legislator per constituency, then I feel that legislator would have more opportunity to focus on their parliamentary duties and deliver on those duties for their constituents and not be trying to compete on things that are non-legislative work,” he said.

He told the Dáil he believes this focus is essential, as Ireland ahs learned to its cost in recent years.

“God knows if we have learned anything in the last number of years we should have learned we cannot afford ever to take our eye off the ball here in this chamber,” he said. “I feel this move would certainly help focus members’ attention on the legislative national issues.”

Griffin is facing a battle to retain his own Dáil seat, as the two three-seat constituencies in Kerry are being merged into a large five-seat constituency.