Sir, – The news (September 10th) that the Government is to scrap the University of Dublin (TCD) and National University of Ireland panels in the Seanad is not a burning issue for the vast majority of voters, primarily because it has no direct impact on most voters. For those of us that are concerned about the stability and future of our democracy, it is of deep concern. The six Seanad members now elected by Trinity and NUI graduates will at some future time be elected by a much wider constituency of graduates of all designated third-level institutions.
While this in itself sounds fair, in reality it is going to dilute the influence of those six senators, and is a cynical exercise pretending to reform the Seanad, which all political parties are using as a stepping stone to Dáil election.
In 1979 the electorate voted for change, yet 45 years later we are still waiting for its implementation. It is shameful of politicians, of the left, right or centre, to continue to kick genuine reform of the Seanad down the road, as they view the Upper House as a fallback for their own political ambitions. – Yours, etc,
VINCENT CARROLL,
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Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – It is now 45 years since I voted in 1979 to change the Constitution to allow for an expanded franchise for the election of the university senators. As a graduate of the Institute of Public Administration, in its last year before it got NUI accreditation, I have not been eligible to vote in these elections. My daughter, who graduated last year from effectively the same course, is eligible to vote in the next election. It seems I will have to wait another six years before the process is changed.
Successive governments will have spent close to 50 years ignoring the will of the people. Is it any wonder that people don’t trust politicians? – Yours, etc,
MARK CROWTHER,
Marino,
Dublin 3.
A chara, – It is very welcome news that the two university Seanad panels are to be merged and enlarged. This long-awaited reform is also going to help the plight of disenfranchised Irish citizens living abroad.
Unlike Dáil and presidential elections, Seanad elections for the university panels are open to non-resident graduates, with great care taken to facilitate postal voting from abroad. The new and enlarged university panel will see increased diaspora voting, and further highlight the dysfunction and injustice of non-resident citizens being denied their right to vote in Dáil and presidential elections. – Is mise,
CIARÁN Mac GUILL,
Clichy,
France.