PEOPLE whose voices will not be heard much in this election are those living on islands. According to the outgoing chairman of Comhdhail Oileain na hEireann, Mr Seamus & Drisceoil, many islanders are unmoved by the election debates.
"For our isolated and scattered island communities, voting two or three days before the rest of the country, elections are muted affairs and not particularly relevant one way or another to the main issues of the day," he says.
"There are approximately 3,000 offshore islanders, 30 years ago there was double that number and when the State was founded at least four or five times more. While rural depopulation is an issue generally, the decline on the islands has been nothing short of catastrophic and the very future of the remaining island communities hangs in the balance."
He points out that no island resident has ever been elected to the Dail. "By the law of averages, in any democracy any particular group no matter how small should expect to see one of their own in the parliament of the country from time to time.
"By contrast, the Jewish community, who are comparable in size to the offshore islands community, have played a significant and honourable role in the national politics of the country. Islanders have never had. and still do not have, any realistic expectation of serving their country in this way.
Islanders are excluded from mainstream politics because of their geographic isolation. And because they are naturally preoccupied with the issue that most concerns them - the survival of their beleaguered communities - they are not regarded as suitable representatives of the wider mainland community.
"This `democratic deficit' extends to local level, where one would reasonably expect a much greater possibility of representation. Today there is not one sitting county councillor who is a resident offshore islander. Consider that the Aran islanders, with a combined population of 1,200 today and formerly much more, have never yet seen one of their own elected to Galway County Council," Mr O Drisceoil said.
Similarly, although two thirds of islanders live in Gaeltachts, no island resident has ever been elected to Udaras na Gaeltachta, he pointed out. The result is that all important decisions which affect islanders are made by non islanders, with a consequent erosion of self esteem on the islands. The reality is a far cry from the self sufficient world portrayed in An tOileanach. "Islanders have had the dependency culture forced unceasingly upon them and it is a triumph of human nature that so many retain a strong sense of rugged independence."
Some changes have taken place. Galway, Mayo, Donegal and Cork county councils have formed islands committees with councillors and island representatives. Although they have no real power the committees are "a step in the right direction", he says.
The most important forum for island development is the Interdepartmental Committee set up by the Government to coordinate strategy in the area. This powerful committee does not have even a token island resident on board to participate in its key discussions.
Similarly, islanders are usually left out of the reckoning when it comes to filling positions on State boards or other bodies.
"Most political parties select party activists for these positions and, because of the general absence of organised political activity on the islands, islanders do not figure in these appointments.
"Why has there never been a resident offshore islander nominated for the Seanad or even for the board of Udaras na Gaeltachta, or for any position of prestige and authority? Why is there not even the expectation on islands that this is something which could happen?"
The incoming government would make a strong statement about its commitment to the islands if it decided to appoint two island residents to these bodies. "Such appointments, while symbolic in one sense, would have a powerful and positive impact on the islands and would demonstrate that islanders too can aspire to a place in the system and not be perpetually standing, cap in hand, at the door."