The prospect of new stateof-the-art chambers was raised last week by the chairman of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. At a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Kieran Coughlan said detailed consultations are planned about "the possible construction of new chambers in time for the 100th anniversary of the First Dáil in 2019".

The idea, however, has found little political support. Parlon said his officials at the Office of Public Works have concluded that the current Dáil chamber could be modified to cope with an increased number of TDs although he personally did not favour going above the present 166 level.

Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins, who is a PAC member, backed Parlon's stance. "I don't see a need for a new chamber.

What is wrong with the present chamber? It's the people in the current chamber that are wrong, " Higgins said yesterday.