Madam, – Garret FitzGerald continues to plug the idea that our electoral system needs reform (Opinion, May 18th). Might I respectfully suggest that nothing could be further from the truth?
The present multi-seat PR system of election enables us to elect whom we the electorate think fit. All the alternatives, including that being proposed by Dr FitzGerald, would enable party apparatchiks, if not to determine, then to have a greater say in who represents us.
The thesis that our present problems derive from our electoral system is flawed. Our present difficulties arise from the lack of accountability of the people at the head of our political institutions through being too long in positions of power. The solution is surely not, as Dr FitzGerald is recommending, to change our electoral institutions by insuring that politicians are even more difficult to remove. – Yours, etc,