Sir, – The referendum-fatigued electorate will surely be bewildered by the news that we are to have a constitutional poll on whether or not to lower the age of presidential candidates from 35 to 21 (“Referendums on same-sex marriage and voting age for May 2015”, December 16th).
One can scarcely think of an issue which could be more utterly removed from the day-to-day worries of voters.
Where exactly did this proposal come from? It didn’t feature in the manifestos of either Fine Gael or Labour at the 2011 general election, and nor was it included in the Programme for Government. The only party which proposed such a referendum was Fianna Fáil, which was hit hard in that election, suggesting there wasn’t much demand for it on the doorsteps.
The first time the idea reappeared after the election was at a meeting of the 100-strong “Constitutional Convention” in Malahide in January 2013, where those present took it upon themselves to put forward this proposal. Even at that tiny gathering, the proposed amendment only garnered a bare majority of those present, with 50 in favour carrying the day due to a small number of abstentions.
The Government has now baulked at the possibility of rejecting the idea, despite the fact that there seems to be no public appetite for it whatsoever – apart, that is, from 50 people in a room in Malahide a full two years ago. And on the back of this total non-issue, TDs from both Government parties will as usual be whipped through the lobbies to vote for a Bill to call the referendum, despite the fact that neither party has ever supported the idea, and that no-one anywhere views it as an issue of even incidental importance.
Meanwhile, back on Planet Earth, ordinary people will continue to focus on getting a job, paying the bills and caring for their families. – Yours, etc,
THOMAS RYAN, BL
Harolds Cross,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – Why are we having a “plebiscite” on the ownership of our water resources and a “referendum” on same-sex marraige ? Which one is legally binding? – Yours, etc,
EILEEN O’SULLIVAN,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.