Madam, – Enjoying a recession-proof evening-in on Saturday last, I accidentally switched on RTÉ’s coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest. Despite my haste to change the channel for fear of being sucked in to this annual attack on music, culture and decency, I noted that the cost of a call to cast one’s vote was 60 cent. Onwards I flicked before coming to the BBC’s coverage of the same event. I was shocked to see RTÉ’s counterpart was charging only 15 pence sterling (17 cent), a little over a quarter of the price at prevailing exchange rates, for the same call. While there are many interlinked discussions (TV licence fee hikes, pay-cuts for overpaid broadcasters etc.), I would be intrigued to hear RTÉ’s justification for charging fans of Eurovision so much for the chance to exercise their democratic rights. – Yours, etc,